














































































/ 







/ 


* 

















T1J E 


HISTORY 

t 

OF 

RICHMOND, 

IN THE COUNTY OF YORK; 

INCLUDING A DESCRIPTION OF THE 

Cattle, jTriary, 

AND OTHER REMAINS OF 

ANTIQUITY IN THE NEIGHBOURHOOD. 


* If to trace the progressof former age.*, 
through a long succession of years, and to rescue from 
oblivion some of those noble Structures which were the 
pride and ornament of our Ancestors, be not always at¬ 
tended with the wished for success, still many of the 
striking features which distinguished them in tlieir origin 
may be preserved, and their mutilated remains kept from 
sinking into total oblivion. ’ 


RICHMOND: 

Printed cv and forT. Bowman at the Albion Pres*; 

AND SOLD BV LONGMAN, HURST, REES, ORME, AND BROWN; 
CRADOCK AND JOY: AND NEWMAN AND CO. LONDON. 





' 02 , 












SUBSCRIBERS NAMES. 


A 

Rev. R, M. Atkinien, Aid’ 
bro’ Hall 

Mrs. Atkinson ditto 

Mis* Atkinson ditto 

John Arden, Esq. Pepper- 
Hall 

Mrs, Arden, Leases 

Reverend Mr. Arrovfsmith, 
Hcorton 

Mr. Arrows mith, Richmond 
Arrow*mith, Brompton 
Abbs, ditto 
Atkinson, Jun. ditto 
Alderson, Hornby 
John Ascough, Rich¬ 
mond 

B 

H. M. Barrett, Esq. Carle- 
ton-Hall, 6 copies 

Rev. George Burrard, Mid¬ 
dleton-Ty as 
F. Blackbume, Rich¬ 
mond, 2 copies 
N. Bourne, Fingall 
W. Bowe, Scorton 
J. Brass, Richmond, 
M. A. 

Mr. Bowes, ditto 

II. Blayds, Esq. 6 copies 


J. Booth, Esq. RilUn-by 
John Beverley, E»q> Rich • 
mend 

Dr, Burchall, ditto 
8t. J. Barnett, Esq, Dalton 
Hall 

Lieut, Biddle, N Y Militia 
Mr. Baines, Hornby 

Bradley, Richmond 
Bradford, ditto 
Brackenbury, ditto 
Bell, Bookseller, ditto 
6 copies 
Bussey, ditto 
M. Bland, Aldbrough 
Bayldon, York 
John Brown, Gilling 
T. Bowran, ditto 
G. Bell, Ravens worth 
Burrill, Richmond 
R. Bow, Middleham 
J. Burrows, Brompton 
Mrs. Barker, Bed ale 

Margaret Boddy, Cat- 
terick 

Baker, Boarhas Farm, 
Devon 

C 

Christopher Clarkson, Esq. 
Richmond. 



4 


SUBSCRIBERS’ names. 


I’. Crowe, Esq. Kipling 
Airs. Crowe, ditto 
Miss Crowe, ditto 
P. Campbell, Esq. Green, 
Richmond 
Miss Campbell 
Colonel Chaytor, Croft, 2 
copies 

R. Chippendale, Esq. Skip- 
ton, Craven 

Cradock, Esq. Hartforth 
Mrs Chaytor, Spennithorne 
Miss Chaytor, ditto 
Rev. A. Clarkson, Rector 
of Nantwich, Cheshire 
Christopher Clarkson, Jun. 

Esq. Richmond 
John Colling, Esq. White 
House 

William Close, Esq. Rich¬ 
mond 

Mrs. Cornforth, ditto 
Rev. Mr. Clark, Middleton 
Tyas 

Mr. Cuitt, Chester 
Mr. Chadwick, Richmond 
Calvert, ditto 

I. Cooper, ditto 
R. Clifton, Brough- 

Hall 

Cook, ditto 
T. Coates, Aldbrough 
Craven, Scorton 
Henry Cook, Abbey- 
Mill 

R. Champley, York. 

R. Cummins, Hart¬ 
forth 

Croft, Richmond, two 
copies 

M. Craggs, ditto, G 
copies 

J. Carry, (rilling 


Mr. J. Coates, Hudswell 
H Cobb, York 
J. Co! beck, Richmond 
Miss Colling, ditto 
Mrs. Cowling, ditto 
M. Clarke, ditto 
Messrs, Cradock and Joy* 
Booksellers. London, 
12 copies 

D 

Right Hon. Lord Dunda?, 
Aske, 4 copies 
The Hon L. Dundas, Aske, 
2 copies 

The Hon. and Reverend T. 

Dundas > 

W. Danby, Esq. Swinton 
M. D. Duffield, Esq. Carle- 
ton, Coverdaie 
T. Davison, Esq. Middle- 
ton-Tyas 

R. Dixon, Esq. Middleham 
M. Dobson, Esq. Leyburn 
Mr. Deighton, North-Al- 
lerton 

W. B. Deighton, ditt<* 
Dinsdale, Scorton 
W. R. T. D’Uxeil, 
Yarm 

Dale, Richmond 
Dickinson, ditto 
Charles Dawson, Mid 
dleham 

J. Dodsworth, Rich¬ 
mond 

R. Davison, ditto 
Miss Dale, Colburne 

Dodsworth, Richmond 

E 

T. Errington, Esq. Clints 
G. Elsley, Esq. Pa rick- 
B romp tea. 


SUBSCB1BElis’ NAMES- & 


Rev. II. Elsley, Burniston 

G. Elsley, Esq. Jun. ditto. 
W Ellis, Esq. Richmond 
Reverend Mr. Edmondson, 

Grinton 

Mr. R. Ellerton, Richmond 
J. Elgey, Gilling 
Edmondson, Middle - 
ham 

C. Embleton, Gain- 
ford 

F 

Lady Frances Fifz william 

Rev. Mr. Ferguson 
Mr. Fall, Richmond 
I. II. Fisher, Esq. ditto 
Mr. Foss. ditto 

II. Fisher, ditto 
W. Foss, Yarm 
Frith, Hornby 
T* Fall, Leyburn, 6 
copies 

James Ferguson, Cat- 
terick 

C. Fryer, Colburne 
Franks, Ashgill 
Mrs. R. Fel!, Bolton de- 
Moor 

Fisher, ditto 
Miss Fox, Etton 

G 

H. Gale, Esq. Scruton 
Miss Grimstone 
ReverendChrisr. Goodwill, 

Richmond 

W. Goodburne, Esq. ditto 
N. Graburne, Esq. ditto 
S. George, Esq. London 
John. Grime, Esq. Milker 
Mr. Gill,. Richmond, two 
copies 

Geldart, ditto 


G lou-i, lAcirsnaia 
Adjutant James Galloway, 
Richmqnd 
Mr W. Gill, ditto 
Mr. G. Gibson, ditto 
W. Gatonby, ditt® 

I. Gaskill, ditto 
Glover, Aldbrough 
P. Greathead, Spenni- 
thorne 

T. Gregory, Earion- 
Lane 

II 

Sir Robert D'Arey Ilild- 
yard, Bart. Sedbury 
Lady Hildyard, ditto 
Rev. John Headlam, Wy* 
cliffe 

T. Hutton, Esq. Clifton- 
Castle 

Mrs. Hutton 

J. Hobson, Esq. Richmond 
Mr. Hutchinson, ditto 
Dr. Hutchinson, ditto 
Mr. Hillyer, ditto 

T. HoYrsbn, ditto - 
Hall, ditto 
Bliss Hall, York 
T. Hogg. Esq. ditto 

L. W. Hartley, Esq. Mid¬ 

dleton- Lodge ' 

F. ti aft ley, Esq. 

Miss Hartley, Middleton - 
T \ as, 3 copies 

M. Harrison, Esq. Whash- 
ton 

Hind, Gayles ' 
Barker, Burton 
Heslop, 'ditto 
Hayward, ditto 
Joseph HewgiH 
T. Hanby 

Jam s HutcE’.. son. Aid • 
bra ugh 



6 subscribers’ names. 


Mr. Joti. Horn, Startforth- 
fiall 

P. Hazeon, 2 copies 
William Heslop 
Hines, Durham. 

I 

ThomasI’Anson, Esq.Prior 
House, 2 copies 
Miss Impey 
Mr. I’Anson, Leyburn 
Ibbetson, Richmond 
J. Ibbetson, ditto 
Ibbetson, Masham 

J 

Rev. Mr. Jolly, Richmond 
Rev. T. Jackson, Kirby- 
Hill 

Mrs. Jaques, Battle, Sussex 
Jaques, Burton 
Jaques, London 
Mr. I. Johnson, Billing 

K 

Mr. Kay, Richmond 
Mrs. King, ditto 
Mr. Kemster, ditto 
Mr. W. King, London 
Mr. G. Knowles 

L 

His Grace the Duke of 
Leeds, Hornby Castle 
Lady Lawson, Richmond 
O. Leefe, Esq. ditto 
3 copies 

Mrs. Leighton, ditto 
Miss Lakeland, ditto 
Mr. Londsdale, ditto 
Sir Henry Lawson, Bart. 
Brough 

J. Lucas, Esq. West-House, 
Ripon 

J. La»ghor», Esq. Berwick 


Mr. Lax, Ravensworth 
T. Langdale, Ripon, 
Messrs. Longman, and Co. 
Booksellers, London, 6 
copies 

Mr. Langdale, North-A 1- 
lerton 

Langhorn, Keartou, 
Swaledale 

Thos. Lambert, Rich¬ 
mond 

Mrs. M. Lumley, ditto 
C. Layfield, ditto 
3 copies 
J. Lowisj ditto 
E. Lawson, ditto 
G. Linton 

M 

Honourable C. F. Maitland, 
2 copies 

Charles Miehell, Esq. For- 
cett Hall 
Mrs. Mosley 

Mair, The Hill, Rich¬ 
mond 

MissMorgatroy, ditto 
Morley, ditto 
L. Macfarlan, ditto, 5 
T. Metcalf, sen. ditto 
R. Metcalf, ditto 
copies 

J. Metcalfe, ditto 
Moore 

Martin, Greta Bridge 
Rev. T. Morley, Easby 
Captain Mair, The Hill, 
Richmond 

Miss Macnally, ditto 
Martin, ditto 
W. Morton, Esq. Studley 
Martin, Durham 
Mr. Mewburn, Darlington 
M«;*-*oll, Kirkbridge 


subscribers’ names 


7 


Mr. Mason, Thorpe 

E. Mason, Richmond 
H. Mason, ditto 
J. Metcalf, ditto 
W. Mason, ditto 
M. Metcalfe, ditto 
R. Mennell, Colborne 
John Mason, Grilling 

N 

Reverend William NewsaiA 
Scrulon 

Mr. Newman, London, 3 
copies 

W. Newby, Darning - 
ham 

Newhouse, Caldwell 
M. Norman, Richmond 
Nelson, ditto 

O 

Reverend JohnOnnan, M. A. 

Richmond ^ 

Sir. Outhwaite, Green-ham • 
merton 

W. O nth waite, Rich¬ 
mond 

Owston, York 

P 

Col. Pulleine, Crake-Hall 
Mrs. Pulleine, ditto 
Mrs. Pulleine, sen. ditto 
Rev. Mr. Plews Ripon 
Rev. M. I. Pattison, Hornby 
Mrs. Pattison, ditto 
W. Pratt. Esq. Richmond 
Peterson, Esq. ditto 
Mrs. E. Pearson, ditto 
R. Pybus, Esq. Middleton- 
Tyas 

Mr. Price, Scorton 

T. Pounder, Kirby Hill 
Pybus, Barnard-Castle 


R 

Right Reverend the Dean of 
Ripon 

Hon. Mrs. Ramsden 
John Robinson, Esq. Rich¬ 
mond 

Rev. J. Robinson, ditto 
C. Readshaw, ditto 
Mr. M. Robinson, ditto 
E. Raine, ditto 
Raine, Durham 
Mrs. Robinson, ditto 

Rodick, ditto, 2 copies 
T. Raggett, Esq. London 
Miss (>. Robinson, Rich¬ 
mond 

Richardson, ditto 
Robinson, Hutton Hall 
John Robins, Esq Warwick 
Street, Golden Squa re, 
London 

Messrs. Robinson and Son, 
Leeds, 6 copies 
Richmond Literary Society 
Book Society 

Mr. Jos. Robinson, Rich¬ 
mond 

P. Robinson, ditto 
J. Relph, ditto 
Richardson, Stockton 
Wtti. Robinson, Bar¬ 
nard-Castle 
T. Robinson, Bromp- 
ton 

R. Redmayne, Settle 
J. Renney, Leyburn 

S 

The Rev; S. Swire, D. D. 
Melsonby 

S. Scroope, Esq. Danfry 
Thos: Stapleton, Esq, Rich- 
moud- 


8 subscribers’ names. 


P. Simpson, Esq. ditto 
T. Simpson, Esq. ditto 
R. Stapleton, Esq. Leyburn 
Sheppard, Esquire Rich¬ 
mond 

Smith, Cornforth-Hill, 
ditto 

L. Spenceley, Esq. Aldbro’ 
Mr. S. Sviire, Jun. Halifax 
John Simpson, Rich¬ 
mond 

Smith, ditto 
A. Smith, ditto 
J. Simmons,' ditto 
B Slrftiger, ditto 

R. Spence, ditto 
M Simpson, ditto 
G Skipsey, ditto 

F. Speddmg, Gilling 
Swetnam,. Gayles 
L. Sivers 
T. Shepherd 
Stelling 

S. Speddmg, Gilling 
F Scafe, Hornby 
Smith, Birmingham 
John Sanderson, Rich¬ 
mond 

Mrs. Smith, ditto 

Smith, Piersbridge 
Miss Sowerby, Scorton 
Sayer, Gilling 
7 Scarth, Esq Staindrop> 

T 

Rev James Tate, M A Rich¬ 
mond 

Thorpe, Esq ditto 
( Topliam, Esq Middleham 
I ieutenant Thompson, N. Y. 
Militia 

Captain H.Terry, Stockton 
Airs Tweddle, Ilartforth 


Aliss Tolson 
Air Tomlin, Richmond 
I Tomlin, ditto 
W Taylor, ditto 
1’ Tennant, ditto 
G Thompson, ditto 
Thairlwall, ditto 
Tutin, Scorton 
J Todd 
S Tomkinson 
Todd, Catterick 
G Thompson, Craggh^ 
Lane 

W Todd, Brompton 
T Tidyman, Bellerby 
L Topham, Middleham 
Messrs J and G Todd, York, 
G c opies 

W 

Rev Wia Wharton, Gilling 
The Hon Mrs. Wharton, do 
Lieutenant Gen. Wharton, 

• Gayles Hall 
Thomas WyclitFe, Esq Rich¬ 
mond 

George Wilson, Esq Gilling 
Lodge 

Miss Whyte, Sedbury 

John Wright, Rich¬ 
mond 

O Wood, Esq Wensley 
S Wrather, Esq Masham 
J Williamson, Esq Ripon 
Dr Walker, Leeds, 2 copie* 
R Wilson, Esq Darlington 
Mr Wilkie, Aske 

P Wilson, Richmond 
Wade, ditto 
Webster, ditto 
Ward, ditto 
A Ward, Bewcrley 
R Wilkin, Eppleby 


SUBSCRIBERS NAMES. 9 


Mr. G Wright, Richmond 
T Walker, ditto 
J Wilkinson, ditto 
Wet herd I, Catterick 
JaraesWardlace, Brough 
Hall 

J W atkin, Richmond 
I. B. Wright 
Mrs. O. Wood, Wensley 
Wilson, Richmond 
Welbank, North-Aller- 
ton 

The following were too late 

betical 

Mr. Thomas Allan, Rich¬ 
mond 

Mrs F Richardson, ditto 
Mr F L«Mi£sinfT, Uitt# 


Miss Westland, Richmond 
Mrs Winks, ditto 
Wade, ditto 

Y 

J Yorke, Esq 2 copies 
Mrs M Yorke 

Yorke, Hatton Place 
Miss Yeoman 
Mr M Yarker, Richmond 


to be inserted in Alpha- 
order. 

Mrs Oufiield, Carlton 
Butler, Theatre 
Mr E Robinson, Richmond 





l L 



PREFACE 


Richmond, on account of its great na¬ 
tural beauties, ii now become one of thos? 
fashionable Places which Travellers generally 
call at in their route to the Lakes and other 
romantic parts of the Kingdom, a History of it 
was much wanted. This deficiency was owing, 
not so much to the want of materials, which the 
antiquity of the place fully afforded, as to the 
collecting and arranging them. 

Mb. Bowman having often been applied to 
for a Work of this kind, the Editor to amuse 
his leisure hours, has put into the present form 
the few Notes in his possession, which had been 
collected at different times in the course of read¬ 
ing, not with a view to publication. These 
were selected chiefly from Gale, particularly 
those which regard its early state, and the rest 
from the best information that could be pro¬ 
cured, supported by a late local inspection and 


PREFACE, 


II 


every accidental occurrence that fell in the way. 
Upon some of the Articles much more could 
hare been said, but as it would have enlarged 
this book beyond til « plan originally intended, 
and have led to discussions not interesting 
to the Public in general, that only has been 
inserted which was necessary to elucidate the 
subject and inform the reader. 

The Materials now made use of, have been 
frequently ©tiered by the Editor to abler hands, 
in order to br|ng out a work more interesting, 
and in every respect more worthy of attention. 
The offers were for various reasons declined; 
at last the task has unawares fallen upon him* 
self, though the difficulty of arranging matter 
of a detached nature, and the want of that easy 
flow of words proper for the subject, which a 
person not used to composition for the Public 
generally feels, were a long time great stumb¬ 
ling blocks. 

This being the real state of the case, it is 
hoped that every fair allowance will be made 
for a work thus undertaken ; and should the 
publication of it afford the least amusement to 
the reader, and a trifling advantage to the Prin. 
ter, every wish will be amply gratified. 


12 


PREFACE. 


Various milter has been received, not only 
from the Publisher, but also from others, friend- 
to the undertaking, to whom the greatest thanks 
are due: still, no doubt, there is a great deal 
more in the hands of persons unacquainted with 
their contents, which might have thrown much 
light upon many of the subjects, but which 
could not be known, or perhaps even come at 
by the Editor. 

Should the demand be such as to call for a 
aew Edition, any correction or improvement 
pointed out, shall be attended to, every thing 
additional which may be received, inserted, and 
the Papers carefully returned with every kind 
acknowledgment. 

August, IS 14. 

:■ a 'id ,■ ? ’• 

4 

, ■ i ■ ■ . h , tavv-t'* 

t ■ i• •> a t\> - 1 'tt 

' : . • • :) \ .f t ,- 

• . d . . iM . i 

, ’ • i • . ■ ‘ // i ; • . . , ■ • j - : ; 


i (, < 

l i ’• . ‘ P ; t 


THE 




OP 


RICHMOND. 


ci Hifttoria, quoquo modo srripta, delertat. ” 


rai 


I 

m HERE is nothing on record, from which 
we can leant, w ith any degree of certainty, the 
origin of the inhabitants of this island, previous 
to the invasion of the Romans. 


When Julius C^sar first landed here, about 
fifty three years before the Christian sera, he 
observes, that the provinces, adjoining the 
coasts, were in possession of those, who had e- 
migrated from Belgium in Gaul, for the purpose 
of trade or plunder : the interior parts were oc¬ 
cupied by the original inhabitants, divided into 
different tribes. Their manners, religion, and 
government be describes ; praises their valour, 

B 


14 


THE HISTORY OF 


and represents them as very numerous. In the 
midst of large woods were their habitations ; 
having cleared the ground, they constructed 
huts,covering them with skins,reeds,and boughs. 
Their towns being in this manner formed, 
the passes were defended with trunks of trees 
piled upon each other, and with ramparts of 
earth. 

if y# 

’ The Brig antes, who inhabited this part of 
Britain, were very powerful, brave, and war¬ 
like ; from their youth inured to hardships, and 
every kind of extreme fatigue. Their ter¬ 
ritories were extensive, including all that part, 
now divided into the five counties of \ ork, 
Durham, Westmoreland, Cumberland, and Lan¬ 
cashire.* 

The forces, which Cassar brought with him, 
being inconsiderable, were repulsed by the 
natives every where, so that he was obliged 
to withdraw them, and give up, at that time, 
all idea of conquest. 

* Isurium Brigantium, which is now only a small 
village, called Aldborough, near Boroughbridge, was 
their capital, to which near twenty cities owned subjec¬ 
tion. This being the most powerful state in Britain, it 
may he supposed to have been the chief city of the island. 



.RICHMOND. 


15 


Britain was again invaded by the Homans, 
headed bytheEmperor Claudius, and after thir¬ 
ty five years of hard fighting, a complete con¬ 
quest was made by Domitian. 

After the Romans had securely established 
themselves, they taught the natives to erect 
buildings, and extend their commerce. Arts 
and sciences began to flourish ; the people be¬ 
came enlightened, and at last reconciled to the 

laws, language, and manners of the Homans.- 

The coast was effectually secured, and military 
roads constructed between the sea and the in¬ 
terior of the country. 

The Romans, after being in possession of it 
near four hundred years, were called home on 
account of their domestic concerns ; and no lon¬ 
ger able to defend so distant a province, relin¬ 
quished it to the ancient inhabitants. 

Tjje Brit ains, deserted by their protectors; 
who had drained the country of their ablest 
men, had not courage to resist the Piets and 
Scots, who, taking advantage of their deserted 
situation, broke down the wall erected by Se- 
yerus.* This, being only repaired with sods, 

* This remarkable piece of Roman antiquity, runs 

B 2 



16 THti HISTORY OF 

was not in a state to resist the attacks of a per¬ 
severing enemy, who subdued, and laid waste, 
all the northern parts of the country. Thus si¬ 
tuated, in a moment of the utmost despair, they 
solicited the aid of the Saxon* ; and by their 
assistance defeated and drove back the in¬ 
vaders. + 

*• Jt • j V 

The Saxons, pleased with the country, con¬ 
tinued to land at different times in small parties, 
and instead of auxiliaries, became masters, and 
divided it into seven different kingdoms, called 
the Heptarch y. This continued through three 
or four centuries, till the whole were reduced 
by Egbert, one of the princes, into on-eking-. 

from Wallsend, near Newcastle, to the river Solway, 
thirteen miles from Carlisle. Severus, to secure his con¬ 
quests, began to repair and rebuild it in the year 200, and 
completed it in ten years. It was about 8 feet thick, and 
16 high ; with a ditch to the north 36 feet wide, and 15 
deep. There were about 330 small castles, or watch tower* 
placed along it, at the distance of about 300 yards from 
each other. 

f At the time the Saxons landed in England, this 
county made part of the southern division of the king¬ 
dom of Nqrthiimbhrlvnd called Deira, and extended 
from the Humber to the Tyne. That district, which 
lay north of the last mentioned river, was called Bkr- 


XXClA. 




RICHMOND. 


17 


dom, and called England. These in their 
turn were infested by the Danes, who having 
long envied their possession of the wealthiest 
island in the then known world, made adescentinto 
England under their king Ivar, and forced 
them to give up their conquests. At first they 
conquered Nortjiumber land, soon afterEAST 
Anglia, then made themselves masters of 
Mercia. It was not long before they subdued 
the whole kingdom, and Alfred was under 
the necessity of secreting himself: but shortly 
after he appeared again with a powerful army, 
defeated and compelled them to leave the king¬ 
dom, or be subject to his government. Those 
who remained, settled in East Anglia.. 

These restless people generally rebelled at 
the beginning of every new reign ; and at last 
gave opportunity to Swein king of Denmark 
to subdue all the northern part of England. 
Upon which, Ethelred returned to Nor¬ 
mandy, and the whole country submitted. 

On the death of Swein, the Danei pro¬ 
claimed his son Canute king • but the English 
recalled their Saxon prince Edmund, suc¬ 
cessor to Ethelred. The nobles on each side 

13 3 


18 


THE HISTORY OP 


equally harassed by these contests, compelled 
the contending kings to come to a compromise, 
and the island was divided between them, till 
Canute, by the murder of Edmund, became 
king of all England. 

Under the reign of Edward the Confessor, 
the Saxon: line was again restored, and con. 
tinued till the invasion of the Normans under 
Wi lliam’. He claiming England as a bequest 
from Edward, and getting his claim sanctioned 
by the Pope, which consequently gave him the 
influence of the Clergy, conquered the king¬ 
dom, and the kings of England have ever 
since been the descendants of that prince. 

William, having secured the government, 
returned to the continent to enjoy the congra¬ 
tulations of his ancient subjects. The English, 
taking advantage of his absence, missed no op¬ 
portunity of afliicting their new gutsls with re¬ 
peated slaughter- They formed conspiracies in 
different parts of the country, but.particularly 
in the north, where the Danish king had sent: 
to their assistance his brother Os-bern with 250 
large ships. Thus reinforced* they attacked 
the garrison of Durham, putting 700 men to 
the sword, and killing the governor Koberx 


RICHMOND 


19 

Cumin a Norman, who for his cruel and austere 
disposition had been created Earl of Nor- 
thumcerland. Elated with their success, and 
having put themselves under the command of 
Edgar Atheling, their lawful prince, who 
had lately come to them from Scotland, they 
marched to York : the governor of it shared 
the same fate. Bnt William returning quickly^ 
led his forces towards the north Arriving at- 
Pontefract, he could not pass the river on ac¬ 
count of the great floods, which had overflowed 
its banks. Three weeks he was detained there; 
at last one Lisois, a bold soldier, whom they 
surnamed De Monasteriis or Musters,^ ex* 

jin the history of this county,, frequent, mention is 
miade of the family De Monasterio,. Musters or 
Masters, as one, that had arrived here among the first 
Normans, and obtained large possessions of the Earls 
of Richmond. For we find that Earl Alan gave to 
Robert de Monasterio, the lands of Robert hi* 
grandfather, and which Galfrid h s father, and Lisois 
his uncle,, afterwards enjoyed. In the reign of Ed¬ 
ward II. the village of Kirklington, and other Es¬ 
tates passed with Elizabeth, heiress of John de Mo¬ 
nasterio or Musters, to John de Wandesford. 
Issue male failing, Ann, daughter of the last John 
Earl of Wandesford, having, married in 1709 John. 
Earl of Ormond, carried with herself her inheritance in 
Kirklington, Ilipswell, and Hudswell, to that family. 



20 


THE HISTORY OF 


amined the river very carefully, seeking a ford 
both above and below. At last with much 
difficulty, he discovered a proper one, and 
with sixty brave horsemen passed over, though 
hard pressed by a multitude of the enemy. Oft 
the next day, Lisois having returned, mad® 
known the ford, and without delay the army 
passed over. William hastened on, and be. 
sieged York: the governor, Robert Clifford, 
a man of extraordinary valour, bravely defended 
the castle, standing alone in the breach. He^ 
in no condition to stand against so powerful an 
enemy, took care to send back Edgar to Scot¬ 
land, and submitted to the conqueror’s cle¬ 
mency, who immediately took him into favour. 
Edric, who commanded the Northumbrians, 
also made his submission, and obtained pardon 
on delivering up his son a hostage. The rest 
dispersed, and left the Normans undisputed 
masters of the whole kingdom* 

The rage of the king was not easily ap. 
peased : he swore by u God’s splendour,” his 
usual oath, that he would not leave a soul 

whose posterity enjoy them at this time. About the year 

1722, there remained of this family -Musters, Esq. 

who dying without issue, left the remains of the aneient 
inheritance at Killerby to his sister.- 



RICHMOND. 


*>! 
'& i. 


alive. lie put liis threats into execution, for he 
laici waste all (lie country between York anil 
Durham, destroying the guilty with the inno¬ 
cent, and burning their farms, cattle, and every 
kind of provision. The iron hand of power 
with difficulty kept clown the haughty spirit of 
the Northern princes, who repeatedly en¬ 
deavoured to shake off the galling chains of 
slavery: till at last William irritated at the 
unsettled conduct of his new subjects, confis¬ 
cated their estates, and granted them to his 
Norman followers. 

The princes, whose possessions were seized 
upon, were not a few ; and Ddwym, Karl of 
Mercia, one of the most powerful, did not 
escape the general plunder His territories 
consisted of no less than 200 Manors and Town¬ 
ships, of which 16fi were in Yorkshire.+— 

f Alfred,, the best and wisest king of the Saxons, 
divided as the common opinion is, England into Shires, 
Hundreds, and Tythings. This last is called Decenna 
or Decuria, as what constituted a.decemviral college, in 
which every man was bondsman for another; and it any 
of them committed" a trespass, the rest wt re bound to 
make it good. Besides it is the best and greatest se¬ 
curity, by which all are supported in the firmest state, 
that every man should secure himself under the protec¬ 
tion of a frank pledge. Out of each of these tythings, it 



22 


THE HISTORY OF 


These last contained all those lands, that extend 
on the north-west part even to Lancashire. 
This Edwyn, after the battle of Hastings, 
had peaceably submitted to the king’s power; 
and, Harold being dead, had given with the 
other nobles no little assistance to the con¬ 
queror. William on that account took him 
into favour, allowing him to retain all his pos¬ 
sessions with honour, on giving an oath of fi¬ 
delity. Three years had scarcely elapsed, be¬ 
fore Edwyn broke it on account of the king 
refusing him his promised daughter in marriage. 
He again sought the king’s pardon and again 
obtained it. William desirous of keeping 
him in safe custody, the Earl secretly withdrew 
from the court; and two years afterwards con¬ 
triving a fresh revolt, he was hunted from place 
to place, and at last slain by his attendants in 
his flight to Scotland. 

This short sketch, will not, it is hoped, lie 
thought superfluous or foreign to the purpose, 
as it is brought forward merely to state the 

is probable the conqueror reserved to himself and his 
posterity, an annual payment of 4s. 7d. from Alan on en¬ 
tering into a fee : and, to take away all dispute about the 
compulation of these tytilings, it was declared that 14 
carucates should be accounted for one tything. 



RICHMOND. 


23 


nature of the country, and the different pro¬ 
prietors of lands, at the Norman invasion, 
particularly that part now called Richmondshire, 
belonging to Earl Edwyn. 

Before that period, Richmond had no ex¬ 
istence as a place of note, not being mentioned 
under that name in Domesday,* which gene- 

* Domesday, a book composed in the time of William 
the Conqueror. It was metaphorically called Domesday, 
as if you should say the Day of Judgment, because what¬ 
soever was contained in it, ought by no means to be con¬ 
tradicted In it are recorded all the nobles, according 
to the dignity of their family; so that those who could 
deduce their origin from ancient stems, might deservedly 
arrogate to themselves a greater degree of nobility. Be¬ 
sides, if any one should pretend that his ancestors pos¬ 
sessed this or that estate before the conquest, this book 
would easily settle the dispute ; for it declares who were 
the possessors of all lands before the conquest, as well as 
those who were afterw ards the owners. At the time this 
book was written, there is scarcely to be found in this 
whole county, twenty persons who were not deprived by 
the Norman Conquerors of their possessions, or at least 
compelled to redeem them of the king, or his favourites. 
For this is to be observed, that William having secured 
the kingdom, made this rule for his future conduct, that 
no Ecclesiastic or Layman, no Noble or Plebeian, should 
possess any land but by his introduction. Thus thrust 
out of their ancient patrimonies, they either held them 



24 


THE HISTORY OF 


rally is pretty accurate in describing the towns 
and even villages at that time in being, many 
of which cannot now be traced. So correct was 
it, that Ixguephus in his ''axon annals ‘■avs, 
that a t4 Hide+ of land was not in all England 
u but the Conqueror knew the value and i1 3 

possessor; not an ox or a cow was omitted, 
but brought into the account. ” 

of him as a gift, or of those, to whom he had given them 
When Domesday was taken, many towns in this county 
that had been destroyed by the angry king, had risen 
from their ashes, and many estates were flourishing after 
lying uncultivated nine years. 

f The division of England into Hides is very ancient, 
for there is mention of them in the laws of king Ina. A 
hide of land, contains about 120 acres. Some in¬ 
terpreters of hida, have made it 100, olhers 120, which 
ha* caused a confusion in the quantities of lands ; but it 
must be recollected, that it depends up.»n whether they 
counted after the Norman or English manner, for six 
•core to the hundred is English, and live Norman 
When the kingdom was divided into hides, it was in the 
times of the Saxons, so that we may safely conclude that six 
score was the hundred, w hich custom in some articles we 
■till keep up. This measure by hides seems to be derived 
from the manner which Dido used, when she bought as 
much ground as she could compass with a hide to build a 
•ity upon for herself and subjects ; when she had made 
her bargain, she caused the hide to be cut into shreds, 
and so encircled a great deal more than was ex¬ 
pected. 



RICHMOND 


2-5 

0 ' f ' .IV w f ' ’ ' ^ 1 - ^ j f 

i hat old record, winch was six years fu 
making, and not finished till about twenty years 
after the conquest, describes this country by no 
other appellation than the land of Earl Alas. 
But it particularly takes notice of Gii.lvno* 
its church and a meadow of 12 acres, and the 
different lands belonging to it, which Earl Er>- 
" vv had been in possession of ; from which it 
appears, that this place was anciently the chief 
town in the district, giving to the Waponfakes 
the name§ which they bear at this day. This 
place was rather holy, on account of religion, 
* than strong in respect of its fortifications, from 
the time that Its monastery, which was greatly 
revered by our ancestors, was founded : here 
Oswin, king of Northumberland was murdered 

§ The Liber censualis, or Domesday, did not divide 
the county of Richmond either into Hundreds or YVapon- 
takes ; but it is very probable from an extent made is 
the 30th year of Henry II. that it was divided not Jong 
after the conquest into three Wapontakes, though the 
true year cannot be fixed upon, nor that, In whi h it was 
divided into five. In an inquest made in the beginning 
of the reign of Edward I. the words three, four, and 
sometimes five are diet with, but that in so careless a 
uianne , as to seem not to have been clearly fixed at that 
time Hang-West is mentioned, and Hang-East, though 
the towns are so mixed with each other, that there 
hardly appears to have been any division. At whatso- 

c 



26 


THE HISTORY OF 

by his host; and to expiate the offence, this 
house was built and endowed by queen Eav. 
fledA in the year 659, on the very spot where 
the murder was committed, and which was af¬ 
terwards destroyed by the Danes. Soon fifter 
its foundation, Trumhere the first abbot of 
the place was made bishop of the Mercians. 
A stately fortress was also erected here, w hich 
seems to have been a royal residence ; but upon 
its not being found strong enough to resist the 
old disinherited and outlawed inhabitants, the 
site was removed to a more advantageous situ¬ 
ation, a romantic mount overlooking the river 
Swale. This was the origin of that strong castle, 
which is the prominent feature in these parts. 
But before a description of it, and the other 
places raised under its protection, be entered 
upon, it will be necessary to give some account 
of the Earls of Richmond, the founders. 

ever time this happened, the Wapontakes of Hang and 
are now divided into four, so that the county of 
Richmond consists of the Wapontakes of Hang-East, 
Hang-West, Gilling-East, Gilling-West, and Halikeld, 
containing upwards of 104 parishes. 



EARLS OF RICHMOND 



“ Those dauntless chiefs, 
f< Who clad in armour bright, and lofty crests, 
“ Dealt death with many a ghastly wound.” 

h «.> . !:• • -N 1 - :■ ■ ■ <U ivftn ,yu. : rj 


. 


1 . 


k 


William, Duk* of Normindy, in his 

expedition against England, was accompanied 
by many powerful and valiant warriors, col¬ 
lected from every part of the continent. Some* 
led on bv the romantic love of arms prevalent 


at that time, fought only for fame and high 
sounding titles ; others, soldiers to fortune, 
looked for more substantial honours in the 
newly conquered countries. 

Among the many adventurers, who followed 
William’s fortune, were five of the younger 
spns of Mono, Earl of Bretagne in Armorica ; 
namely, two Alans, the one surnamed Rufus, 
the other Niger, Stephen, Brian, and Ri- 
rald. The three former were successively 

C 2 




I 


28 


THE IIIaTORY OF 


Karls of Richmond ; Brian had a portion of 
land assigned him in Cornwall, but marrying 
the heiress of Cbaxf.au Brient in his own 

. . v 

country, he retired thither, and laid the found¬ 
ation of a noble family, that ourishtd there for 

many ages : Ribal»+ had Middleham and 
___ 

f Ribald, brother of Alan Rufus, and first Lord of 

Middleham, after the conquest of England; to him, 
the above Alan gave the Manor and Lordship of Middle- 
ham, with the appurtenances, and many other estates, 
which had belonged to Gilpatrick, a Dane, in the time 
cf Edward the Confessor. This Ribald gave to God 
and St. Mary at York, and the abbot Gosfrtd, in per¬ 
petual aims for the soul of Beatrix his wife, and that of 
Lari Alan, five c&rucalea of land in Bumiston ; and, 
after the death of his w ife, became a monk in the said 
Atihstj of Mary. By hia wife Beatrix, he had a aaiSr 

Rwirpnuied T ryniuns. To him, Earl Stephen, 
h!s miele, by Ills charter and delivery of a Danish 
hatchet, confirmed Middleham, and all the lands, which 
Ribald his father possessed at the time he became a 
(ivorA. By his wife Agatha, daughter of Robert Bruce, 
s*f - Ac'.tor), he had a son 

Ku« but, Lord of Middleham. To him, Conan, 
Marl of Richmond, ga\e the fbrest of Wensleydale, 
with common of pasture. This Robert, in 1190, 
biiilt the castle of Middleham. After his death, hi« 
widow Helewisra, daughter and heiress of Ralph de 
Gi.anmllf, a Baron and Chief Justice of England in 
the times of Henry II. and Jichard I. with the consent 

T«.‘ v# * * ' .• ' J • > J * * * » 4 

bur sgu a*d heir WVti.ti, icunded. a- a :»aUry of 



RICHMOND. 



many other lands in fl ichmon nsrn re i^iven him 

Canons Pramionstratensians at Swayneby, as is mani¬ 
fest from the Bull of Clement III. granted in 1190 to the 
same Walran : she died the 11th of March, 1195, and 
ivas buried at Swayneby. By her husband Robert, sin; 
had three sons : her eldest, Walran died in her life time 
without issue : her second 

Ranulpiius, Lord of Midd!chain, after many alterras 
tions with the monks (ifStvayneby, removed and placed 
them in 1213 at Coverhanvncar Middleham, and conferred 
on them the church of Coverlvam, and many other lands 
and tenements, as appears by a tine passed in the court of 
king John. He removed from Swayneby the bones of his 
mother, and buried them in the Chapter-House at Cover- 

r 

ham. He died in 1251, and was buried at Coverhaul. 
By Mary, daughter of Roger Bigot, Earl of Nbrirojui, 
he left a sou 

Radulphcs, Lord of Middleftam : he in the year 125s,, 
the 4th of Henry III. founded the Friars Minors 
at Richmond* and died ,tne last day of March, 1279.— 
Ills bones are buried at Coverhang but his heart lies at 
Richmond, ia the chureh of the Friars Minors. By his 
wife, Anastasia, daughter of William Lord Percy, he 
liad a daughter and heiress. 

Maria, married to Robert de Neville, Lord of Raby, 
who made great improvements in the outer parts of the 
Castle. This Robert having had many children by her* 
w as taken in adultery, and being unknown, was in re¬ 
venge emasculated by the enraged husband , this-threw 
biiu into such excessive grief, as to *«use his death soon 
after. This lady in her widowhood gave to the Abbot aad: 

c: $ 



20 THE, HISTORY OP 

by his brother Ala v. Besides these, there 

Convent ofCo^erham, in perpetual alius,, certain lands in 
Cr&kehaTl, with two cottages in Thoraldeby, valued at 
131. 15s. 3d. a year, to found a chantry in the great Chapel 
at Thoraideby. Marin had another sister married to on 
Tateshal, who dying without issue, the whole inherit¬ 
ance, came to the Nevilles. By her husband Robert,, she 
left a sen 

Ralph be Neiiele, a noble Baron, but as to his tem¬ 
poral affairs, by no means provident, having a greater 
desire to spemd liis time among the Canons of Mali.on and 
€ overham, than among Caslles and Manors. lie had 
two w iv es, the first Euphemia, daughter of John de 
C layering, by w hom he had offspring; the other Mar¬ 
gery, daughter of John* son of Marmadlke db Thweng, 
brought him no children. He survived his eldest son, 
Robert de Neville, who was called the Peacock of the 
. North h to whom and his heirs Maria gave the Castle- 
and Manor of Middleliam, with the appurtenances in fee 
simple, by fine to be levied in tke King’s court, seeing his 
father was not accounted the wisest in worldly matters. 
Ralph died the 18th of April, 1331, and was buried at 
Coverliam, at the south side ol tlu; altar. 

The Castle continued in the Neville family until the 
reign of Henry YI. when by the forfeiture of Richard 
Neville, Earl of Salisbury, it came to the crown. Sir 
John Neville, uncle to Ralph, Earl of Westmoreland, 
who died without issue, being found his next heir, 
was in rew ard for his services to the King in his contest 
with the house of York, made constable of it for his life- 
Is the year 1470, Edward IV- being made a prisoner by 
Xtirbard Neville, the great Earl of Warwick, was seat la 



RICHMOND. 31 

were two other persons Bcud n and Bahdolpit, 

* 

this Castle to be secured. But Edward had the ^ubtilty 
to elude his keeper’s vigilance, and escape. By th« 
death of the Earl of Warwick, and his brother, Joh» 
Neville, at Barnet, in 1471, all their Estates were con¬ 
fiscated, and among them Middleham, which was settled 
by Edward on the Duke of York and his heirs. This 
place was a favourite residence of Edward and his brother 
Richard, Duke of Gloucester, afterw ards known in our 
annals under the name of Richard III. 

Richard undertook to found a college here, to consist 
of a Dean, six Chaplains, four Clerks, six Choristers, 
and one other Clerk. For this purpose he obtained from 
his brother Edward a royal licence, but the foundation 
not being j et laid, and no stipends assigned either for the 
Chaplains or Choir, he left the w ork unfinished, being 
prevented by the greater cares of ambition or by death. 
Nevertheless, the parochial priest retains the name of 
Dean, w ho being exempt from the authority of the Di¬ 
ocesan, and only visitable by the crown, enjoys many 
immunities and exemptions, and exercises ecclesiastical 
jurisdiction within his limits. St. Alkelda, the patroness 
of the church and fair of Middleham granted to Ralph 
Neville by Richard II. which is annually celebrated 
the 25th of October, is quite unknown to sacred writers. 
Yet the inhabitants have a tradition, that she lies undeF 
a very large stone, which they show in the middle of the 
church ; they also have described her passion in the glass 
w indows, where two maids, having cast a linen napkin 
round her neck, slop her breath. All that can be farther 
said of this place, with any degree of certainty, is, that 
it was inhabited so late as 1009 by Sir llenry JLinley, 






32 


THE HISTORY OF 


bastard brethren of the other five, who had large 
possessions in this county. 

Alan Rufus, was o*n e of the bravest among 
William’s auxiliaries in his desperate attempt: 
he commanded the rear guard at the battle of 
Hastings, and by his undaunted bravery con¬ 
tributed to the success of that day. He about 
three years after iwas employed at the siege 
of York, which Edwyn Earl of Mercia 
and the Northumbrian Earls Morcar and 
Waltheof bravely defended. The Danes- 
being bribed with a large sum cf money in hand, 
acd leave to plunder the sea coasts at their going 
oft', promised to depart as soon as the spring 
would permit. Their general, Osbern, kept 
his word, embarked his forces, and basely left 
his alhes To the mercy of the Norman. This 
desertion of the Danes caused the greatest 
consternation in the garrison ,which had nothing 
to trust to but its own bravery : but being en¬ 
couraged by the valour of their governor, those 

Knight. It does not appear that this Castle was the 
scene of any important transactions during the civil wars; 
but being an inland one, was one of those, which in the 
‘22d of Charles I. was ordered by the Committee at York 
to be made untenable, and no garrison kept or main¬ 
tained in it. 



RICHMOND. 


33 

gallant men made a stout resistance, resolving 
to sell their lives at as dear a rate as possible. 
After repeated proofs of heroism, thi* stiong 
place was at last subdued, and William was so 
pleased with the great prowess of Alan, that 
for his military services he created him an Karl*, 
and rewarded him with the possessions of Ed~ 
vryn, not only those in Yorkshire, but also all 
the other lands which belonged to him or his 
father Alg.ui, in Norfolk, Suffolk, and other 
counties ; all which made his dominions so ex¬ 
tensive, that he sometimes styled himself Karl 
of the East Angles. The grant for the York* 

* This was a great title among the Saxons, and is the 
most ancient iu the English Peerage, there being no title 
of honour used by fiuf pivsenl Nobility, that was like¬ 
wise in use by the Saxons, except this of Earl: it was 
generally applied to the first in the Royal line, and was 
afterwards gi\en by our kings to such as they associated 
with them in their councils or military actions. The 
Conqueror gave it to his Nobles in fee, annexing it to a 
Shire, which is now called a County, from the word 
Count or Comte, for which he changed this title, but 
it was not long retained $ in each Shire the Earl had a 
Lieutenant under him, such as is now the Sheriff. Tli% 
mode of investiture w as by girding them with a sword, 
without any formal charter of creation. Of late times, 
the number of Earls increasing, several of them hav*s- 
chosen for their titles some part of a county, a town, oji 
e\eu their oun ^eats. 



34 


THE HISTORY OF 


shire property is remarkable as veil for its 
brevity as strength, and shows how estates 
were formerly conveyed in very few words— 
The form in this case is as follows : 

u Ego Gulielmus, cognomine bastardus, 
u do et concedo tibi Alano, nepoti meo, Bri- 
44 tannic comiti, etha»redibustuis, in perpetuum, 
“ omnes villas, et terras, quae nuper fuerunfc 
44 Comitis Edw'yni in Eborascira, ruin foedi* 
44 militum et ecclesiis, et aliis libertatibus et 
44 consuetudinibus, ita libere et honorifice, sicut 
44 idem Edwynus ea tenuit ” 

44 Dat in obsidione coram civitute Eboraci.’* 

Which may be thus translated : 

* '■ l . J >■ fT 

* I Wit mam, snrnamed the bastard, 

<{ give and grant to thee Alan, my Nephew, Earl 
44 of Bretagne, and to thy heirs for ever, all the 
44 towns and lands, which lately belonged to 
44 Earl Edwyn, in Yorkshire, with the Knights 
4 ‘ fees, churches, and other privileges and tusr 
toms, in as free and honourable a manner, as 
the said Edwyn held them. 

44 Given from the siege before York,” 

Rv this charter, the honour of Richmond is 
granted to Alan in as free and honourable a 


RICHMOND. 


35 


manner as Edwyn held them ; but since under 
Edvryn it was Geldabie,* and under Alan 

* The Danes, a populous and warlike nation, were 
always very much inclined to commit depredations upon 
the neighbouring states, and particularly against Eng¬ 
land, because they claimed some ancient right in 
the government of it. To free England from these 
robbers, it was agreed by king Ethelred and the 
Danes, that 36,000 pounds in silver should be paid them 
every year as a tribute to desist from their depredations. 
In order to collect _this sum, the King laid a tax of Is. 
afterwards, 2s. upon every hide of land through the 
whole realm, except what the church held in their own 
hands. But afterwards, seeing the people grievously 
harassed by so great a burden, and trusting to his own 
strength, he refused to pay the tax. The Danes highly 
enraged, invaded England with a large fleet, carrying 
on the war with more than savage barbarity, and at last 
prevailed i this tax w'as then laid aside. Being after-, 
wards driven out, they renewed their depredations. To 
repel these attacks, the same tax was laid upon the na¬ 
tion, for the use and support of stout able men, who, 
surveying and keeping continual watch over the coasts, 
might repress the attacks of the enemy : this payment 
being appointed principally for the Danes, w as called 
Danegeld: This, by an annual law, was paid under 
the native Kings even to the time of William the Con¬ 
queror : for though under his reign, the Danes, as well 
as other robbers by sea and land, were restrained their 
hostile incursions, well knowing the old saying to b« 
true “ when a strong man armed guards his house, his 
goods are at rest,” yet as it had been paid before, and 



3(1 


THE HISTORY OF 


changed into a Liberty ; this made Alan enjoy 
it in a much more liberal and princely manner 
than Edw-yn, namelv, by military service, which 
at that time, and for many ages after, was ac- 
counted by far the noblest of tenures. These 
kinds of tenures were finally annihilated in tb« 
time Of Charles 11. 

Alan finding that his capital Manor of GiU 
iyng was not strong enough to protect him 
against the inroads of the Angles, then every 
w here banished out of the country, and likewise 
from the incursions of the Danes, began in 1G71 
to build near it a Castle* *' and fortifications. 

• ■ • ► > r i I ft:*> * * -1 / ‘ * 1 1 i ' •• /w *U*5 ” 

even in his time, he was unwilling that that should b« 
required as annual, Which had been exacted in the ur* 
gent necessity of a warlike attack, nor yet laid aside on 
account of unlooked for accidents. On this account, 
during his life and that of his successors, it was rarely 
paid, and then only when wars, or expectations of war 
arose from foreign nations. 

* Alan, for a farther protection to Ids tenants again** 
the attacks of the men of Westm<reland and Cum¬ 
berland rebelling against the Conqueror, and, with Gos- 
patriek, Duke of Northumberland, adhering to the 
king of Scotland, built the tower of Bowes, in which 
he appointed his cousin Guillermos lieutenant over 500 

archers, vnd gave him his own shield, with the arms of 
Bretagne, and three bows and a bundle of arrows for hi* 



RICHMOND. 


37 


He called this Castle Riche-mont after his own 
French idiom, as being situated in a more fruit¬ 
ful and stronger part of his territory. Some 
suppose that it had a Roman origin, because a 
silver Roman spoon with two cup-like mouths 
at the ends of a curved shank, and a great 
quantity of Roman coins, more than 600, of 
Constantine and other Kmperors, were found 
in 1720 at the bottom of the hill, on which the 
Castle stands ; hut no other mark of any thing 
Roman can be found, unless from the cataract 
across the river Swale, near the Castle mill, you 
place here, which some do, that celebrated 
Roman station Catterick, now situated a few 
miles lower down the river. It may be sus¬ 
pected, that some rich Roman citizen of Catter- 
ick, allured by the pleasantness of the woods 
and waters, placed his villa here, and trusting 
to the solitude of the place, had buried his trea¬ 
sures in it at the approach of the Saxons, 

Thus the place owes its first beginning to the 
Bretons, who added to it a certain adjoining 
territory, called the land of Fontenay, on 

standard. From this circumstance, Guillermus was af¬ 
terwards called Guillermus de Areubus. He was an¬ 
cestor to the famous and knightly family of Bowes in 
the county of Durham. 



38 


THE HISTORY OF 


which a town was afterwards built. A r, AN 
having securely fixed himself in his new pos¬ 
sessions, returned to Bretagne with the 
greatest part of his companions ; leaving those 
soldiers only, w ho as being retainers to for¬ 
tune, had little advantage to hope for from 
their return. He made frequent journies, while 
he lived, between Bretagne and England ; 
yet his favourite residence was in the latter 
place, where his estates and honours lay, and 
where he settled his brethren and principal at¬ 
tendants. It has been asserted, that when En- 
wyn’s possessions were granted to him, that 
the king at the same time gave him his daughter 
Constantia in marriage ; but this is an error, 
which has arisen from Alak Fkiigant, son of 
the Duke of Bretagne, who married this prin¬ 
cess, being confounded with Alan Rufus, 
and from the frequent confused mentioning of 
these two Alans in history. Since there is no 
other account of Rufus’s- wife, it may reason¬ 
ably be concluded, that he never married, and 
died without issue: this event took place in 
1089, and he was buried at St. Edmundsbury. 

A. D. 1089. ...Alan Niger, his brother, 
the second Earl, succeeded him in the Honour 


RICHMOND. 


39 


of Richmond. Little or nothing occurs with 
respect to him during the short time he survived 
his brother, except the giving of Cranfelde 
to the Monastery of Ramsey. Actions have 
been frequently attributed to him, which were 
done by his nephew Alan, as the granting of 
the first Charter to the Burgesses of Richmond, 
and various other grants. ile died wiihout 
children four years after he had entered upon 
the Earldom, and was buried at the south door 
of St. Edmundsbury. 

A. D 1093... .Stephen, brother to the above 
Alan, was the third Earl ; he, before he came 
to the honour of Richmond, being a great fa¬ 
vourite with William Rufus, persuaded him 
to assemble a high Court of Parliament at York, 
the first ever held. He seems to have spent 
the greatest part of his time in Bretagne, yet 
he enriched many Monasteries in England by 
his benefactions, particularly those of St. Ed¬ 
mundsbury, Swineshead in Lincolnshire, and 
Swavesey in Cambridgeshire : but the Mo¬ 
nastery of St. Maiiy, near the walls of York, 
which hiS brother Alan Rufus in 1088 had first 
founded, he endowed with the largest pos¬ 
sessions. By his wife Avicia de Guingamp, 


40 


THE HISTORY OF 


he had many sons ; the eldest, Geoprhy, he 
lived to see buried, and his next, Alan, 
married to Bertha, only daughter and heiress 
to Conan, Duke of Bretagne : having the 
pleasing hopes, that by this marriage, the 
Dukedom of Bretagne and Earldom of Rich¬ 
mond would one day center in his family, which 
happened in Conan, son of this Alan and Ber¬ 
tha. fie died in April, 1137, aged 90 years, 
and was buried at Begar, a Monastery of Cis¬ 
tercians, in Bretagne, founded by himself; yet 
he ordered bis heart to be placed in the Monas¬ 
tery of St. Mary, wheie, on the 20th of April 
following, funeral obsequies were performed 
for him with great splendour. 

A. D. 1137....Alan the third, son of Ste¬ 
phen, became the fourth Earl ; he was also 
called Alan Niger, on which account he is 
often confounded with his uncle Alan. About 
seven years after he received that honour, a 
person of great property in these parts, one 
A chari us, a soldier, son ofBARnu*PU, brother 
and heir to Bodinf, Lord of IIavenswath 


f This Bodin, bastard brother of Alan Rufus, whan 
Domesday was taken, was in possession of the village of 
Ravenjswaxh,, and many other Lordships in. the neigh- 



RICHMOND. 


41 


gave to Peter. be Quinciano, a Monk of 
Savigny, in Normandy, and to some other 
Monks of the same order, certain lands at 
Foils, in Wensle) dale, where was founded in 
1145 a Monastery of Cistercians, and called 
the Abbey of Charityt, over which John be 

bourhood, which before, and at the conquest, one Tor- 
piiinus possessed. Bodiu in his old age, or rather when 
he was desirous of serving God, and quitting the world, 
gave to his brother, Bardulph, his estates : he and 
Ribald, brother to Earl Alan, became Monks together. 
Bardulph at the request of his brother Bodin, when a 
Monk, and for the souls of his Father and Mother, and 
for the salvation of himself and his brothers, gave to God 
and St. Mary, D’Everwick, (Saxon name for York) and 
the Monks there, the church of Patrick Brompton, and 
one carucate of land, and the church of Raven swath, 
and one caracute of land there. The family of Bardulph 
flourished for many ages among the Richmonders, in great 
wealth and honour. See more of this family in the note 
to Randolph, among the Barons who had stations in the 
Castle. 

f The Witnesses, whose names were subjoined to the 
patent, were Acharius the founder, and Scolandus, who 
lived at the time it was building. These two persons w ere 
also Witnesses to the first grant to the tow n of Richmond; 
w-hieft circumstance makes it very evident, that it was 
this Alan, who gave the first charter, and not h*s uncle 
Alan Niger, as.has been very erroneously supposed* 



42 


THE' HTSTORT OF 


Kingston was made Abbot. Ach a rias dying*, 
in 1161, was the first that was buried in the 
Chapel of this house, 

A-banv by his Charter granted to his Bur¬ 
gesses of Richmond for ever his Borough and lands 
called the land of Fontenay in fee farm, under a 
yearly rent charge of t£%9. 

Tuts Alan again confirms to the same Bur¬ 
gesses of Richmond that liberty, which they had* 
enjoyed in the time of his uncle Alan and his 
father Stephen. The latter part of his life he 
spent mostly in England, being a faithful at¬ 
tendant on king Stephen* from whom he re¬ 
ceived the administration of the county of 
Cornwall; upon which he styled himself Earl 
of Cornwall, as well as of Bretagne and Rich¬ 
mond.. 


He was a great ‘warrior, and had many narrow* 
escapes, particularly in the defeat, which Ste¬ 
phen sustained at Lincoln : but not long after, 
in a conference, he was trapanned by Ranulph* 
Earl of Chester, who obliged him by ve»y ill 
treatment to redeem his liberty at the price of 
tile county of Cornwall.. Peter de Quincianoy 


RICHMOND. 


43 


who practised physic at that time, visited and 
took care of him during his confinement. To 
reward so signal a kindness, he not only granted 
to him Engleby for the church of the Holy 
Trinity at Savigny, where they were to pray 
for the souls of his Father, Mother, Wife, and 
Children ; but at bis solicitation, confirmed all 
the patents granted by Acharius to Fors Mo¬ 
nastery, and was himself such a benefactor to 
tt, that he may very well be regarded as its 
second founder. He not only by his own do¬ 
nations and the large privileges granted to it, 
but by his encouraging others to the same mu¬ 
nificence, preserved it from ruiu, while yet in 
its infancy. His piety even went so far, as for 
the purpose of praying out of purgatory the soul 
of his uncle Brian, to give ten shillings a year 
out of the lands which his uncle had given hiur 

i 

before he died. 

By his marriage with the heiress of Bretagne, 
he had a son called Conan, in whom the Duke¬ 
dom of Bretagne and Earldom of Richmond 
were first united. He was in England in 114^ 
but soon after retiring into Bretagne, died there 
the year following, and was buried is the Be- 
garian Monastery. 


44 


THE HISTORY OF 


A. D. 1146. ...Conan, the fourth Earl, his 
son, succeeded at the death of his father, to the 
Earldom of Richmond, and to the Dukedom of 
Bretagne in 1143, at the decease of his grand¬ 
father. He was the first that took the title of 
Earl of Richmond ; his predecessors generally’ 
styled themselves Earl Alan, Earl Stephen, &c. 
He married Margaret, sister of William, 
king of Scotland, by whom he had an only 
daughter and heiress called Constauce. This 
Conan built the great square tower at the en¬ 
trance of Richmond Castle* Many religious 
houses were benefited by his liberal contribu¬ 
tions ; viz the church of St. Mary at York, to 
which he confirmed the grants made by his an¬ 
cestors ; Kirksted Abbey, in Lincolnshire, to 
which he gave the church of Gaiton, with some 
lands; Dennis Abbey, in Cambridgeshire, found., 
ed in 1169, by Robert, chamberlain to the 
Earl of Richmond, who afterwards became a 
Monk in it; and St. Martins near Richmond ; 
besides he built a Priory at Rowney. in Hert. 
fordshire ; but Fors Abbey received his most 
liberal contributions. He, on account of the 
poverty of the place and inclemency of the air, 
removed it in 1156, with the consent ofHervey, 
son of Acharius, to a more genial situation near 
East Witton, and called it the Abb^y of Jokr- 


RICHMOND. 


45 


?aux,+ dedicating it to the Virgin Mary; 
vhere the bones of Acharius the founder, after 
having been taken out of the grave, were car¬ 
ried and buried :* he however reserved to the 
heirs of the original founder the right and title 
of the foundation. 

He seems to have been a prince of a weak 
and humble mind, and so subject to the will of 

f It takes the compound name of Jorevallis, from 
the very fruitful valley which the river Jore, (now Eure) 
divideg: it flourished long in great affluence, and was 
endowed with large possessions, till it fell under tho 
common calamity of all religious houses in the reign of 
Henry VIII. 

* Henry Fitz-Randolph, ancestor of the Lord of 
GreystocK, in Northumberland, was buried here ia 
1262 . 

Adam, his brother, in the church-yard. 

Albrede, wife of Hugh Fitz-IIenry, brother of 
Randolph, died at Hurworth, in 1302, and was buried 
at Jorevaux, near Henry Fitz-Randolph.. 

Henry Fitz-IIugh, was. buried in 1352, before tho 
High Altar, 

Hugh Fitz-Henry, who married Johanna, daughter 
of Henry le Scrope, Lord of Masham, was buried 
before the High Altar, in 1336. 

Hugh Fitz-Gernagan, was buried in the Cloister; 
hcgavctothe Monks a caracuie and a half of land io- 



46 


THE HISTORY OF 


H enry II. King of England, that he betrothed 
his daughter Constance, not then five years old, 
to Geofrey the king’s second son, not th°n 
eight. For the sake of this match, though not 
t > be consummated for many years after, he 
gave up the sovereignty of Bretagne, being af¬ 
terwards no more than Henry’s vicegerent; 
and reserved to himself no part of his posses¬ 
sions, except Guingamp and Richmond, to 
which, by his Grandmother, Stephen’s wife, 
he had an hereditary right : Henry taking to 
himself, in right of his son Geofrey, all that 
was brought into the family by Bertha, grand¬ 
mother to Constance. 

Conan, by his charter, grants to his Bur¬ 
gesses of Richmond, the privilege of holding 
the same liberties, which his grandfather had 
granted. He died January 23, 1171, in Bre¬ 
tagne, and was buried at Begar. 

Fors, which is called the Dalegraungk, jn perpetual 
alms. 

The Abbot of Jorevaex held the Rydding near 
Woodhall. This word Rydding, or Riding, is derived 
from the custom of the Lord of the Manor riding his 
own limits at certain times, and which is called riding 
their bounds. Under that appellation, we have Ram- 
kel Rydding. Tanfield Rydding, Hessay Rydding, &c. 



RICHMOND. 


47 


Upon this event, the king, during the mi¬ 
nority of his daughter, kept for some time in 
his own hands the honour of Richmond, which 
the family of Bretagne had enjoyed a hundred 
years successively : for within a year after 
Conan’s death, Ralph de Glanville paid 
the king a composition of six Pounds, eight 
Shillings, and Elevenpence out of it, the last 
year’s Fee-Farm Rent. 

Not long after, Constance, Duchess of 
Bretagne, daughter of Conan, being thought 
of sufficient age, was put into possession of the 
Honour, though she enjoyed the title from the 
death of her father. Her husband, Geofrey, 
the short time he lived after, spent it in per¬ 
petual contentions with his father, who had pro¬ 
vided so well for him. He died the 19th of 
August, 1186, at Paris, whither his rebellious 
temper had drawn him, to solicit the arms of 
the French king against his own father. His 
untimely death was brought on, by being 
thrown from a horse at a tournament, when he 
was so much bruised by the fall, and the tramp¬ 
ling of the horses, which galloped over him 
when down, that the most skilful Physicians of 
that day could be of no use to him in that des¬ 
perate situation. He left a daughter, called 


48 


THE HISTORY OP 


Eleanor, who being in king Henry’s hands at 
bis death, and failing afterward into those of his 
successois, lived many years a prisoner at 
Corfe-Castle, Gloucester, and Bristol, where 
she died in 1241. The year after Iris death, on 
the 28th of March, his widow Constance, 
was, to the great joy of the whole country, 
brought to bed of a posthumous son called Ar¬ 
thur. The life of this unhappy prince proved 
of no great service to his friends. 

Constance, not long after her husband’s 
death, was compelled by Henry If. to marry 
Ralph he Blundeville, Earl of Chester, 
who in consequence of this match, often styled 
himself Earl of Richmond. He was so dis¬ 
liked by the Bretons, that immediately after 
the king’s death, he w as banished by them, and 
obliged to flee into England. His absence did 
not give Constance much uneasiness, nor indeed 
did Richard I. desirous of keeping the guar¬ 
dianship of the young Duke in bis own hands 
and the administering of his affairs, give him as¬ 
sistance to recover his rights. Ralph, how¬ 
ever, at the instigation of the king, waylaid 
and seized the Duchess his wife ; but that step 
was of little advantage to him, for upon Arthur’s 
hurrying away to France, it was agreed, that 


RICHMOND. 


49 


she should be restored to her liberty. Arthur 
too, a little before Richard’s death, which 
happened in April, 1199, was reconciled to las 
uncle by means of the king of France ; .yet the 
king by his will declared his brother John heir 
to the kingdom, though the right of inherit, 
ance belonged to Arthur, being the son of 
Geoi rey, his second brother. 

As to what belongs to the Earldom of Rich¬ 
mond, in the reign of Richard I. it appears 
to be in the king’s power in 1194, soon after 
he returned out of Austria, where he had been 
a prisoner. It seems therefore either to have 
been resigned by, or taken from the Earl of 
Chester, when the difference happened be¬ 
tween him and his wife Constance, and never 
restored to the Countess, or her son Arthur, 
after they were both reconciled to the king. It 
more clearly appears so from these circum¬ 
stances, that in the fifth year of his reign, Alan, 
son of RoAj.dus, paid into the Exchequer 130 
marks, for holding the government of the Cas¬ 
tle, and in the tenth year of it, Roger of St. 
Edmunds was created by him Archdeacon of 
Jliphmond, 


E 


50 


THE HISTORY OF 


The life of the unfortunate Arthur was a 
scene of unhappiness aud trouble, for John was 
continually harassing him from place to place, 
though Philip of France, sometimes protected, 
sometimes abandoned him, as it suited his own 
interest, till at last he was taken prisoner at the 
siege of Mirabeau in Poictou. There is no 
account of him afterwards, but that he was re¬ 
moved a prisoner from one castle to another, 
till April, 1203, when there is the greatest 
reason to suspect, that he was murdered by 
the order, if not by the hands of his barbarous 
uncle. 

His mother Constance was easily prevailed 
upon to renounce her marriage with the Earl of 
Chester, who had been forced upon her, and 
therefore under a pretence of kinship, or rather 
adultery, a divorce was soon obtained. She 
being now at liberty, and having no children by 
Ralph, married one Guido de Thouars, a 
noble Breton, who had always supported her 
cause against king John. It happened luckily 
for Constance, that she did not live to see the 
mournful funeral of her son Arthur, for she 
died in Bretagne in 1201, and was buried at 
Begar, From her marriage with Guido, sprang 


RICHMOND. 


51 


two daughters, Alicia and Catharine ; the 
latter was confined a prisoner in England, and 
never released during her life. The former re¬ 
mained in custody of the king of Fiance, v, ho 
in the year 1212, gave her in marriage with the 
Dukedom of Bretagne to Peter de Dreux or 
Mauclerc, one of his knights,, though tiro 
nuptial ceremony was put off for some time* the 
bride being no more than 12 years of age. Soon 
after this marriage, Guido, a man of no great 
spirit ana no way ambitious, retired, and with 
his second wife lived a private life till April, 
1213, when dying, he was buried near the 
Duchess Constance. The French king hoped, 
that by this match his supreme power in Bretagne 
would for the future be established beyond a 
doubt; for besides the most unreasonable terms 
which he had imposed upon Peter, he expected 
some advantage from his near relationship to liim T 
as this new Duke was descended in a right line 
from Robert Earl of Dreux, second son of 
LewisY. Peter continued faithful to him for some 
time, but being an ambitious prince, and apply¬ 
ing every thing entirely to his own advantage, 
he privately supported the party of king John 
towards the latter part of his reign. 

There is no doubt but J ohn kept fast hold of 

the -county of Richmond, which his brother 

E % 



52 


THE HISTORY OF 


Richard had left him at his death ; for in the 
second year of his reign, the same Alan paid to 
the king 300 marks and 3 nags for the custody 
of the Castle, which he had been deprived of, 
and for the king’s letters patent to compel the 
knights, who owed guard to the Castle, to dis¬ 
charge their duty. In his third year, he dis¬ 
posed of the Archdeaconry to Richard de M-a- 
risco, and in his eighth, gave the command of 
the Castle to Hugh de Neville : nor does it ap¬ 
pear that he ever gave up the Earldom till the 
seventeenth year of his reign, when he agreed 
to restore it to Peter de Dreux, who 
A. D. was invited into the kingdom to assist 
1216. him against his barons every where in 
arms to support their liberties. Peter 
held the Honour till the following reign, when 
entering into a strict alliance with the French 
king, it was taken from him, and given 
A. D. by Henry III. to his brother R iciiard, 
1227 Earl of Cornwall. 

A. D. 1229... .Peter a short time after coming 
again into England, and being a great favourite 
with the king, the Earldom was a second time 
bestowed upon him, and all the lands belonging 
to it, in whatsoever hands they were ; and soon 


RICHMOND. 


after he enjoyed the title of Karl. At tills the 
king of h ranee was enraged, and ordered Pe ter 
to appear at his Court; upon his refus.d to 
obey the summons, lie deprived him of his Duke¬ 
dom of Bretagne, and ordered his nobles not to 
pay him allegiance. Soon after, a French unity 
invaded his territories, and seized upon several 
of his towns ; but great dissensions arising in this 
army, it was obliged to retire, and a cessation 
of arms was made for three years. As soon as 
it was expired, Lewis invaded Bretagne w ith 
a powerful army, and reduced him to such ex. 
tremity, that he promised to surrender, unless 
relief arrived from England before All-SaijUs 
day. Immediately Peter went to England to 
implore assistance, but was received so coldly, 
that he was obliged to return, and submit en¬ 
tirely to the king of France’s pleasure, >ho 
having plundered many of his towns, compelled 
him to make such submission as he thought lit. 
The conditions were very grievous : he was 
sentenced to make sufficient apologies to his 
barons, and his Dukedom was given to his 
ildest son John, who being of age, did homage 
for it in 1232 at Paris ; after this, Peter only 
styled himself knight of Brain. 

At last, after various changes of fortune, 

E 3 


54 THE HISTORY OF 

Peter was appointed by the Pope, general of 
the soldiers,, bearing the cross, who were sent 
to the Holy Land : but he did not stay long 
there, for he returned in two years time and 
became a pirate, till Lewis made him surrender, 
and restore all the booty which he had taken. 
His restless temper not suffering him to Con • 
tinue long at ease, and the religious army being 
again mustered under St. Lewis, he went along 
with it. At a battle fought 'at Massoura he 
was wounded, taken prisoner with the king, 
and set at liberty with him. On his return 
home in 1250, he died, and was interred 
among his ancestors in the church ofSt Eutrod 
Br'enneu: his wife Alicia had died in Bre¬ 
tagne about the year 1221, and was buried at 
BlonarmeL 

• } I •. | - . f „ , is, • 

Tire Earls of Richmond cannot after this 
time be numbered in any regular succession, 
&9‘Constance’s husbands, Geofrey, Ralph de 
Blundeviile, Guido de Thouars, Alicia’s hus* 
band Peter deDreux, and Richard, Earl of Corn, 
waty styled themselves Earls of Richmond 
sometimes two of them at the same time, and 
ireryu frequently the,Earldom was in the hands 
#ithe king. 


/ 


RICHMOND. 


5& 


Rltilu de Dreux was the first of the Earls of 
Richmond who bore arms, viz. the shield of 
Dreux, studded with gold and azure tassels, 
quartered with ermine, to distinguish them from 
ids eider brothers + 

f Arms cannot very well be assigned to the Carons of 
earlier times, when-it is very well known r tli»t the bear¬ 
ing oi Coats of Arms,, for the sake of distinguishing 
families, was not established before the year 1147, the 
beginning of the second Holy War.. They do not ap¬ 
pear even on the great seals of our kings before Richard I. 
w ho at first bore a Lion, or rather two Lions rampant, 
facing one another, and afterwards three Lions, or rather 
two Leopards-passive. It cannot be supposed, that sub¬ 
jects had such Coals of Arms, whilst their princes liad 
none. If any arms therefore are to be met with en¬ 
graven on their shields before that time, they must 
be looked upon as inscriptions or emblems invented 
by the wearers; or rather ingenious devices, which- 
the moderns have bestowed upon them. From the 
very rise of the fashion, no arms are to be found 
fixed to families, or hereditary, but sometimes changed 
by the same person, as by Richard I. ; sometimes 
altered by their posterity. Seals about the end of the 
Twelfth century began to be very common, but most 
of them, even at that time, only represented the figure 
of a- knight on horseback, armed cap-a-pie, with a 
drawn sword in- his hand. No other badges- were fixed 
upon their shields, as may be seen in the seal of Geofrey, 
son of Henry HI. who being, by right of his wife Con- 
it&nce, Earl cf Richmond, gave a grant in 1181': sealed 



56 


the history of 


John, son of Alicia, being made Dulie 
of Eultagnf, look upon himself the 
A. D. title of Earl of Richmond, after his 
1237. father abdicated or was deprived of 
that honour ; though it is probable, 
that the lands and territories belonging to the 
Earldom were seized upon by the king of Eng¬ 
land, when Peter do Dreux the last time sub¬ 
mitted to the French king, and not restored to 
the young Duke, who had tied himself to the 
king of France by a servile dependance. As a 
proof of it, they were given to Peter 
A. D. of Savoy, (lie queen of England’s un* 
1241. cle, a very great favourite of the king: 
and when the Duke in 1213 demanded 
them again, he received for answer, that he was 
to make appear, what advantage such a restitu¬ 
tion would be to the kingdom of England. They 
came to terms two years after, but lie could by 
$© means bring about the recovery of the Earl¬ 
dom ; however in lieu of it, he received from 
Ilenry a yearly pension of 2000 marks, either 
because the king would not take it back from 

Savoy, or was willing to observe-w hat he him- 

-_-- - *----- 

with'that seal. The arms therefore, which are given lo 

the former Earls, are counterfeit and fictitious, as there 
is no mention made of oae original from which they w ere 
taken. 





RICHMOND. 


57 


self hail lately decieed, viz. that whatever 
u goods the French, Normans, and Bretons, 
44 possessed in England, should be forfeited to 
44 the crown, according to the like Edict of 
' 44 Lewis IX. in which he ordered his subjects, 
Ci who had lands in France, Normandy, or 
4f Bretagne, either to forfeit them, or those 
41 they had in England.” By whatever means 
it happened, Peter however held the Earldom' 
many years after, though he never assumed the 
title of Earl of Richmond, as appears from his 
coin and from his will, in which he styles him~ 
self only PeteF, Earl of Savoy. 

To this, there was likewise added among 
many other good-Estates, the Manor ofALn- 
brough*, with free warren, which had been, 
purchased for him by the king, and which by a 
Copyhold right, had belonged to the family, 
having the title of Constables of Richmond. 
For it appears from Domesday, that Roald, 
son of Alan, son of Roald, who sold it, ob- 

* Of the ancient village of Aldbroi;gh, we have the 
following notice in Leland’s Itinerary. “ There appear® 

great mines in a valley of a house, or a little castle at 
u Alburch village, and thereby runneth a beke. There 
u appeare mines of like buildings at Cawdewelle village, 
(( two miles west from Alburge. And betwixt these tWA 



58 


THE HISTORY OF 


tained these lands from Emsant Musard+, the 
first Constable, to whom the lands were assigned 
by Earl Alan in his partition among his princi¬ 
pal retainers. 

By the will before merrtioned y it appears 


«• villages appeare divers hillettes, cast up by hand, and 
“ many ditches, whereof some be tilled with water, and 
“some of the dikes appeare about St.John’s, that is 
“ paroch church to both. The d ikes and hills were a 
“ camp of men of war, except meune might think they 
“ were ruines of sum old town.” 

f IIasculfus Musard, had from the Conqueror very 
tine Estates in many counties. Whether a kinsman of our 
Emsant or only the same surname, on account of their 
similar manners, is in doubt. For our ancestors called 
a man who was indolent or given too much to meditation* 
Musard. Yet it is manifest, that Emsant was in great 
favour with the king, as he obtained many large posses¬ 
sions, which Tor, an Englishman formerly enjoyed, 
and who, unless thire is a mistake, discharged the 
office of Constable under the Earl. For it is certain that 
almost all the lands which he possessed, descended as an 
inheritance to the Constables of Richmond; and if they 
obtained the lands of Emsant, why not his office. Em • 
sant Musard had a son called. Roaldus, Constable of 
Richmond, under the third Alan ; after four generations, 
it passed to Roaldus de Burton, the 11th of Edward I. 
whose son, Thomas de Burton, in the reign of Ed* 
ward III. sold his estates to 1Ie:,ry j.e Scrope, Lord of 
Bolton. 




RICHMOND. 59 

that Peter bequeathed the Earldom of Rich¬ 
mond to his niece Eleanor, Queen of Eng¬ 
land, on condition that she paid his debts due 
to Mamet Spina, and Co. Citizens and mer¬ 
chants of Florence. To this will we owe the 
inquest, made in the eighth year of Edward If. 
which explains more particularly, than is to be 
met with any where else, the value and extent 
of the honour of Richmond, not only that part 
which the county of York contained, but what¬ 
ever belonged to it through all England. 

In 1259, a treaty of marriage was entered 
upon between the king’s daughter Beatrix and 
John’s eldest son, in which John pressed very 
much the restitution of the county of Richmond, 
but the king would do nothing in it without the 
consent of Peter. At last it was agreed, that 
the king, in lieu of it, should allow his son-in¬ 
law *£1200 a year, besides an annual present 
of 200 marks. Soon after, a power was given 
to Peter of bequeathing all the Rents and Re¬ 
venues to whomsoever he pleased, and likewise 
liberty for his Executors to enjoy them seven 
years after his decease. 


John offended that the possessions which his 
family had so long enjoyed, and which he hoped 


f»0 


THE HISTORY OF 


would have been restored upon the marriage of 
his eldest son with Henry’s daughter, should 

be given away to another, was so very impor- 

. • 

tunate with the king as to gain his point, giving 
in exchange the Manor of Hastings, in Sussex* 
Many mandates being issued, Guischard of 
Charron, to whose care the Earldom, Posses¬ 
sions, and Castle of Richmond were entrusted, 
was ordered to deliver up the two former to 
Ralph de Morteyn for the Duke's use ; but 
the Castle was kept from him two years longer, 
as before that time, he had not performed his 
homage. That he might however satisfy the 
Queen’s demands, founded upon her uncle’s 
will, he settled upon her 1200 marks during her 
life. Thus having got the Honour of Rich¬ 
mond into his ovrn hands, he immedi- 
A. D. ately created his eldest son John Earl 
1268. of Richmond. 

It has been asserted, that this John was 
never properly Earl of Richmond, because a 
licence was granted to John the son, not the 
father, on his making a journey to the Holy 
Land, to borrow 2000 marks to defray the ex- 
pences of the journey, and for which some lands 
in the Earldom of Richmond were mortgaged. 
The deed itself proves it, in which he is called 


RICHMOND. 


til 

by the king u John, our beloved for, eldest 
4t son of the Duke of Bretagne and one of 
the grants to the Burgesses of Richmond makes 
this still more apparent • From all these circum¬ 
stances, it is evident that the son and not the 
father ought to be called John K Carl of 

Richmond. These two Johns have often been 

* * 4 <' 

mistaken and confounded one w ith the other, 

<* 

attributing many things to the father, which 
w ere done by the son, even marrying him to 
Beatrix his son’s -wife. The elder John after 
the restoration of Richmond to his family, was 
a liberal benefactor to Jorevaux Abbey, and 
d.Y iug October 8, 128t>, w as succeeded as Duke 
of Buctagne by his son. 

off si ifiniv o ft oil) ID 

John l. during the life of his father, and 
after Richmond was restored to the family, con¬ 
firmed in the year 12C8 to the Burgesses of 
Richmond their privileges, at the time he was 
lodging at Jorevaux Abbey; and afterwards, 
in 1279, ordered a fair* to be held there for 

»v 1 r < , , ; P * i '• C ^ 

* Before, the Necessaries ami Ornaments of life, from 
th<* ^reat want of communication) eouHi be procured in 
the tillages, goods and commodities ot every kind were 
chiefly sold at Fairs. To these, as to one universal marl, 
the people resorted at certain stated times, and supplk J 

F 





62 


THE HISTORY OF 


four clays together, at the feast of Holy Hood; 
namely, on the Vigil, on the clay, on the mor¬ 
row of the exaltation of the Holy Cross, and 
for one day following. 

About four years after he obtained the Earl¬ 
dom, he agreed with the Priests of Egglestone, 
or Athelstan Abbey, that for the future, six 
chosen out of their number should do duty in 
Richmond Castle daily, and pray particularly 
for the soul of Beatrix, his late consort, till 
his own death ; and after his obit, for the soul 
of each, and of all faithful departed. For 
their more convenient abode, he gave them an 
enclosed place on the west side, near the greater 
Chapel, the great west window of which is now 
to be seen ; and for their greater accommoda¬ 
tion ordered that they should have free ingress 
to, and departure from the Castle, as often as 
it be necessary, iu time of peace ; in time of 
war, these Chaplains were not to enter the 
Castle nor remain in it, unless by special licence 
from the Earl, his Heirs, or his Bailiff, but were 
to return to their Abbey, and there celebrate 

most of their wants for the ensuing year : from this cir¬ 
cumstance, Fairs were a very great advantage to a 

town. 



RICHMOND. 


03 

mass till they were recalled. For their main* 
tenance, he assigned them a capital Messuage 
in Moulton*, with the .Abbey lands, and a 
water-mill there, and gave them liberty to 
cut dow’n the timber, annually growing upon 
an acre of ground iu his Wood at Wil(- 
clitr. Besides the above grant, the Priests 
had an annuity of nine Shillings out of some 
houses in Bargate and Walker’s Green, for¬ 
feited to the Earl by the felonies of William 
Whelpk and Galfued the fuller, lie like¬ 
wise left them by will Five Pounds, for two of 

* Tor had a Mauor here before the conquest j at the 
time of Domesday, Karl Alan had in demesne, three 
caracutes and four tenants, and four cottagers with cue 
carucate and a half. - * 

IN the 9th of Henry III. an Act' j of Parliament was 
made, to restrain people from giving lands to the reli¬ 
gious. Nevertheless, in this long reign of 56 years, 
there was founded, supposed at Moulton, near Rich¬ 
mond, Begar, a Priory of Carthusians, made an alien cell 
to the Abbey of that name in Bretagne j which upon the 
suppression of foreign houses, was granted first to the 
Chantry of St. Ann at Thirsk, then to Eton College, af* 
terwards to the Carthusian Priory at Montgrace, near 
Osmotherly, and lastly to Eton College again. At 
Moulton there is a farm possessed by Mr. Sayer,, fifty 
acres of it, only when in tillage, pay a beggar’s tithe of 
one thirtieth, and there are some old buildings there, 
called the Cell. 

F % 



S4 THE HISTORY OP 


them to celebrate' Mass at a Chantry founded by 
him in the Chape! • of the Castle, for Ids own 
sou! and (Mi* of his wife. Being a Very pious 
man. Tie fcotfftrmecT the donation of a Mass 
Chap*! at Houghton, founded by Mary, widow 
of Sir Robert Neville of'Middleham, and it is 
also Said that he translated Egglestone Abbey 
from Richmondshire, where it stood, to the 


Bishoprick of Durham. 

MAiaaj F' - j.iv i-A ‘nil v- f i .«! • .» 1 »,i 

Some time after, on account of an intended 

journey to Judaea, he had a discharge for the term 
of five years from the military duty, which he 
was bound to perform to the king in all his 
wars : and continuing there two years without 


any tidings of him, licence was obtained at the 
solicitation of his* mother* that Nicholas he 
Stapylton should take care of his affairs during- 
his travels, as John de M aurf, his seneschal 


in England, was going’ abroad to make some en* 
quirks.after his. lord. 


A. war breaking out between Rbward and 
Philip. John at first took the part of the king 
of England, whose forces he commanded: but af¬ 
terwards, he deserted to Philip, and was byhim 
created aPeerof France. It ishardly to be doubt¬ 
ed. but that after his desertion from Edward, he 


RICHMOND. 

ij rsn/Tcui idii i 


% 

was deprived of the Earldom of Richmond, and 
not restored to it till a peace was made between 
the two kings, a little before his death. This 
misfortune happened in 1304, when he was at 
Lyons, at the instalment of Pope Clement V. 
occasioned by the fall of an old wall, loaded 
with too great a crowd of spectators, while he 
was performing the honourable, but melancholy 
office of holding the bridle of the horse, upon 
which the Pope rode. He was buried at the 
Carmelites,Plonarraelses, where his Mausoleum 

“ • - * w 'hi t _ , . * 

is to be seen at this day. By his will, he felt 
Five Pounds to the Friars Minors in Richmond? - 
and a hundred pair of shoes to as many poor lii 
the bailey of Richmond, for the repose of his 
soul. He was a Prince of a noble turn of mind, 
liberal and bountiful, as well to his tenants m 
England, as to his subjects in Bretagne. At 
his death, he did not forget the religious and the' 
poor of both countries. lie was particularly' 
generous to the Monastery of the Friars Minors* 
in London, under the north arch of which buffer¬ 
ing his Duchess was buried : among other things 
he gave- them 300*1*. sterling, a valuable ‘gold ' 
cup, various costly vtstmenis, ; amTmany other 
effects, for the support ami necessities of life 
Bcoihers. By his wife Beatrix, he had 

... ;■ ... ^ 


o 

o 


’ i In HHUM 


66 


THE HISTORY OF 


sods, Arthur, who succeeded him in the Duke¬ 
dom of Bretagne, and John. 

A. D. 1304. ...John 11. his eldest Brother 
Arthur having inherited the Dukedom of Bre¬ 
tagne, succeeded to the Earldom of Richmond, 
according to the will of his father. This will 
Edward confirmed, releasing to him all the 
goods and chattels of his father, which had been 
distrained for debts due from him to the crown, 
and ordered his tenants to pay him all due alle¬ 
giance and accustomed duties, on his paying an 
annual rent of Thirty Six Pounds. He was 
made Lord Lieutenant and keeper of Scotland 
by Edward I. who in the following year, sum¬ 
moned him to the Parliament held at Carlisle, 
and also gave him a power to hold markets and 
fairs in many of his Towns and Lordships. In 
the first of Edward II. he was again ap¬ 
pointed Lord Lieutenant and keeper of Scot¬ 
land. 

The King being at York, the Scots under 
Robert Bruce entered England, and penetrated 
so far, that they burnt the Suburbs of that city; 
they afterwards tailing upon the King’s forces 
unawares, John was surprised by them in By- 


RICHMOND. 6 7 

land Abbey, and taken prisoner whilst at 
dinner. 1 lie King himself with difficulty es¬ 
caped by the lleetness of his horse, and the un¬ 
daunted bravery of John, who with great bold¬ 
ness defended the passages, and stayed the pur¬ 
suit of the enemy. This escape, and his ap¬ 
pointment of Keeper of Scotland, were the 
reasons why Robert kept him a prisoner for 
some time, and determined never to release 
him. The Pope at last interfering, or rather a 
large sum ofmoney being paid, which was levied 
upon his Earldom of Richmond according to 
the feudal system, he was about two years after 
set at liberty. He was a second time taken 
prisoner by the Scots, at the battle of Bannock¬ 
burn, and Exchanged for the Queen of Scotland 
and the Bishop of Glasgow. The Scots con¬ 
tinuing their cruel and inhuman barbarity, again 
laid waste with fire and sword all the west parts 
of Northumberland, even to York. The mis¬ 
fortune of being taken prisoner happened to him 
a third time, just before the King had rewarded 
him with many estates in Hartlepool, Wood- 
hall, and elsewhere, forfeited by the rebellion 
of Roger de Clifford, John re Mowbray, 
and Roger de Damorey. The King also be¬ 
stowed upon him for his ransom, while he was a 


68- THE- HISTORY OP 

v v/ - • ^ ^ s * V,» A X A -» ^ 

prisoner, the care of all the estates of Jour* 
Nokthwood, which were then in his hands by 
the minority of John’s heir, and allowed seven 
persons of his family to go and wait upon him. 

There is no account of him afterwards, till 
the year 1325, when he went to Paris as Em¬ 
bassador from the king of England. His abodes 
there continued for some time, from whence, 
either through dislike to the King’s bad admi¬ 
nistration, or a coincidence with the Queen and 

Prince of Wales, he was not disposed to retain. 

\ - 

It appears that he was attached to the latter 
party, from his making a contract with the 
Prince of Wales, that for the Earldom of Rich¬ 
mond, he should yearly receive ten thousand 
French Pounds, to be paid out of the Bents of 
Bourdeaux. This contract was.afterwards can¬ 
celled. The mandate by which the Jligh- 
Sheriff ia ordered to proclaim him a rebel, and 
the disobeying the King’s order in, not coming, 
to him, prove his refusal to return to ...England. 
The King.therefore took from him the Earldom 
of Richmond, and informed the Pope, who 
supported his causey that his disobeying the 
order to return, was the reason for what was 
done- Edward, upon the decline of his affairs,. 


RICHMOND J i 

and when he was no longer able to keep 
A. Dr it from him, restored the Earldom to 
1320. him. ‘From this time he enjoyed it 
'without' molestation, for in the fifth 
year of Edward HI. he obtained leave to 
make it over to his Niece, Mary of' 
A. D. Sr. Paul, Countess of Pembroke, 
1332. who engaged to pay him yearly 1800 
Pounds ; reserving to himself however 
the title of Earl, and also all the Parks, with 
the presentation of the Churches and Monas¬ 
teries. Soon after this, he retired to Bretagne 
and dying there the 17th of January 1333, with¬ 
out issue, was buried in the Franciscan Chapel 
at Nantz. 

lauirridh cunilkda * * iutk 

A. D. 1333\... John III. Duke of Bretagne. 

J ' 

his Nephew, and son of his elder Brother Ar¬ 
thur, by his first wife, Maria de Demotic is, 
having performed homage to the King, was .ad¬ 
mitted to the possession of the Earldom of 
Richmond, and all the Revenues belonging to 
it. It has been asserted, that Edward took it 
from him again, as one entirely ir» the French 
interest, and bestowed it upon Robert, Earl 
of Aiitois, who had come into England and 
suggested to him his right to the crown o£ 
France. All this is very much to be questioned* 


70 


THE HISTORY OF 


since there is no record of any such deprivation, 
and since it is evident, that John was in posses¬ 
sion of the Honour of Richmond not only in the 
year 1338, when the war was begun in France, 
but that he styled himself u Comes Richmun. 
“ diae” in 1339, and enjoyed it with all its Re* 
venues till 1341, the year in which he died in 
Bretagne, without issue. 

This Duke laying aside the arms of Dreux, 
assumed the ermines only, which he and his an. 
cestori had borne in the quarter ; though in 
in the monument of his grandfather John, 
erected in the church of the Carmelites at Plo- 
narrnel, the ermines All the whole shield, with, 
out aoy addition of chequer work, which the 
whole arms of Dreux were made of. 

•» 

A. D. 1341. ...John IV. Earl of Monte* 
fort, 8urnamed the Valiant, claimed the 
titles of Bretagne and Richmond, as well by 
hereditary right as by will; for he was Ar¬ 
thur’s son, by his second wife Jolenta, 
Countess of Montefort, and widow of Alex¬ 
ander III. King of Scotland. Yet Charles 
of Blois was competitor with him for these 
titles; he having married Joan, daughter of 


RICHMOND. 


71 


Guido, Earl of Penthievre,Arthur’s second 
son by his first wife Maria dc Lemovicis, and 
own Brother to the last Earl. The king of 
France, who was made umpire, adjudged the 
Dukedom of Bretagne to Charles, the other 
having favoured too much the English interest. 
John had better success in England, where 
Edward gave him the Earldom and Honour of 
Richmond, to be held till he should recover his 
own estate of Moutefort, out of which the 
French king had ejected him. 

Edward was afterwards very desirous of 
taking Richmond into his own hands; for soon 
after a contract was made between him and 
John, in which it was agreed, that he should 
enjoy the Earldom only without the posses, 
sions, till laads of an equal value were assigned 
him in France. A little after this agreement, 
John was unfortunately taken prisoner at Nantr, 
which place he was obliged to surrender to the 
French army; and Edward either through de¬ 
spair of giving him any assistance, oi through 
the belief that after this misfortune his cause was 

not worth supporting, gave in the sixteenth 

* 

year of his reign the Earldom to his 
A. D. fourth son John of Gaunt, not three 
1343. years old, and created him Earl by the 
ceremony of girding on his sword. 


72 


THE HISTORY OF 


*. 


| 

John a little before his decease, made hi* 
escape from France, having deceived his guards 
in the disguise of a merchant’s dress brought 
'him by some poor people, lie died in 1345, 
leaving Edward III. guardian of his infant son 
John. hviiroV.O ' • : , 





A. D 1354.... Edward put his own son, 
John of Gaunt, in possession of. the Honour of 
Richmond, and on creating hint Duke of Daw- 
caster in 1362, annexed it to that Dutchy ; 
but apprehending .the validity of this transac- 
tion, he seven years afterwards got it confirmed 

u • ’ ■ 

by an Act of Parliament, and took care that 

4'.; : ■ ' ' v 


the late Karl's son should give up all his claim. 
To reward him for so great a sacrifice, this ar¬ 


ticle among many others between him and the 
French king was added, , u that the young 

• ’ * "i * • 1 • * • %■•''' 

Prince John, should be . restored to the posses- 
sion of his Earldom of Montefort, and to his 
whole estate in the Dutchy of Bretagne.” 
Disputes running high between John and Charles 
de Blots about this Dutchy, and which the kings 
of England and France were not able to settle, 
a general engagement fought at Aurac, brought 
them to a conclusion, where Charles was slain 
in the field. 


RICHMOND. 



The l 1 rench king fearing that John would 
pay homage to the king of England, by whose 
means he had recovered Bretagne, proposed 
teims, which were accepted, and the Duke re- 
sunied the full possession of the Dukedom. A 
peace made in Bretagne being inloG9 infringed 
by the French, the Duke was in doubt how to 
conduct himself with regard to the tw o kings : 
to the English he was indebted for his Duke* 
dom, and likewise for two wives out of the 
Royal Family; his first, Mary, the fouith dauju 
ter of Edward III. his second, Joan, the 
daughter of the Princess of Wales, by her first 
husband, Thomas Holland, Earl of Kent. 
Actuated by such strong motives as these, he 
sided with the English, yet with great caution, 
that he might not openly offend the French. 
His wavering disposition however did not keep 
him long in any fixed plan, for w ithin the spa< e 
of three years, he made a treaty with the French 
king, at the very time that Edward 
A. D. had by contract and agreement re. 

1372. stored to him the Earldom of Rich- 

' 

mond, w hich John of Gaunt, then King 
of Castile and Duke of Lancaster, had renounced 
for other lands. Not regarding his treaty with 
the French, he a few' months after b$uud him* 


G 


74 


THE HISTORY OF 


self again to the English by stronger ties of 
friendship, amf wan in consequence of it, 
stripped of the Dukedom of Bretagne. He 
then came over with his wife to England, and 
lived upon the profits of his Earldom, the kiug 
of France having by presents withdrawn from 
him the allegiance of his subjects on the con¬ 
tinent. 

Edward frequently endeavoured to restore 
him to his former situation, sometimes by lend¬ 
ing him assistance, sometimes by trying to com¬ 
promise matters with the French king, but all 
to no effect; aud dying a few years afterwards, 
left the business to be settled by his grandson 
Richard II. This Prince in the first year of 
his reign, gave him the power of cancelling the 
royal mandates in the Earldom of Richmond, 
and granted to him and his dependants an im¬ 
munity from all toll age, bridge-money, and 
other taxes, through the whole kingdom. 

Richard kept the Duke among the military 
attendants about his own person, that under 
Thomas of Woodstock, Duke of Glou¬ 
cester his uncle, he might serve in the navy, 
giving him at the same time the command of 200 


RICHMOND. 


75 


men at arms, and the same number of Archers. 
This naval armament was designed for the at¬ 
tack of the Spanish Fleet, stationed at Siuys, in 
Flanders; hut by reason of a stoim dispersing 
it, the attempt was unsuccessful. The Duke 
staying some time with the Karl of Flanders, 
the next year returned to England, being robbed 
of all his possessions in Bretagne, with the ex¬ 
ception of the Port and Town of Brest, then 
closely besieged by the French, who had de¬ 
clared the whole effects of the Dukedom for¬ 
feited to the Royal Treasury, and the title an¬ 
nexed to the kingdom of France. 

The Bretons, when they saw their Prince 
treated so harshly and cruelly, returned to their 
allegiance, and chose rather to recal him than 
become the dupes of France. 'lheDukewes 
therefore sent from England with an auxiliary 
body of stout and valiant men, commanded by 
the most experienced generals. With the as¬ 
sistance of these troops, he in the apace of two 
years obliged Charles to sue for peace, which? 
was accordingly concluded. The Duke upon 
paying homage, was again restored to the pos¬ 
session of Bretagne, and Earldom of Monte- 
fort. The situation of the Duke of Bretagne 

G 2 


THE HISTORY OF 


76 

between the kings of England and France, both 
more powerful than himself and equal to each 
other, was always Tory unpleasant : he must 
frequently have been reduced to tire necessity of 
being dependant upon the one and consequently 
of incurring the displeasure of the other. 

Tiif. king of Englaud was greatly offended at 
this treaty, by which the Duke was obliged to 

i. | 

send home the English auxiliary forces, which 

^ y * » 

he had taken out with him in the expedition ; 
but it w r as not possible, on account of the aver¬ 
sion which the Bretons had to strangers, nor 
was it indeed necessary, after a peace had been 
made by the French, to keep them any longer 
in France. Richard therefore on this account 
detained the Duchess his sister in England, and 
assigned for her maintenance the profits of Rich¬ 
mond, as long as she remained there. At last 
he permitted her to return to her husband, and 
enjoy the Revenues of the Earldom till the 
following year, as a help for her to discharge 
her debts. 


Two ytars being elapsed, and the Duke 
continuing in the French interest, the Earldom 
in a year!} meeting of the Parliament con- 


RICHMOND, n 

fiscated to the crown, and settled by 
A. D. the king on Ann his Queen for her 
1385. life. A reconciliation being afterwards 
effected, the Duke was again restored 
A. D. to it by a new grant, and having sent 
1387. a formal embassy to demand it, gave 
the title of Earl of Richmond a few 
A. D. years after to his seoond soft Arthur, 
1394, Notwithstanding all this, a grant of 
the Earldom was soon after made by 
A. D, Richard to Jo aw, the Duke’s sister, 
1398. wife to Ralph B assist of Drayton ; it 
was in all probability with the Duke's* 
consent, as after his last restoration, he had no 
other disturbance with the king. 


Richard being driven from the throne, 
HrnAy IV .in the first year of his reign gave 
the County and Honour of Richmond 
A. D* without the title of Earl, to Ralph 
1399i Neville,* Earl of Westmorland,.. 
for his life. 


* The most illustrious family of the -Neviiabs every 
one*must know, who is not entirely uua.eqimiu.ted With 
English History ; and if a long; series of Ancesrtor*, de¬ 
rived a# well from the Royal Blood; of the 8axons as 
fromtheXorman Barons, and splendid many ages back 

Q 3 



78 


THE HISTORY OF 


The Duke of, Bretagne being dead some 
time before, was succeeded in his.Dukedom bv 
t>is son John, who never enjoyed the Earldom of 
Richmond, though such hopes of seeing these 
honours again settle in his family had been given 
him by the king, that he sent his Chamber)ain An. 
31 ELUS of Ciron Caslle to perforin homage for 
him by proxy ; but Henry disappointed these 
expectations, and the Honour and Profits of 

Richmond were never any more restored to the 

* «- . • 

Ducal family of Bretagne. Arthur, however, the 
second son of John, during his iife took upon 
him the title of Earl of Richmond ; even all 
the Dukes of Bretagne in their Diplomats and 
Seals did the same, till Ann, daughter and. 
heiregs of Francis II. last Duke of Bretagne, 
on her marriage with Charles VIII. king of 
France, annexed the Dukedom for ever to that 
kingdom.. After this event no foreigner ever 
assumed the title of Earl of Richmond. 


for the greatest honours and wealth, can ennoble any one, 
this family deservedly dares to snatch the palm from al¬ 
most all the Nobles of the kingdom, no root having ever 
sent forth more, or more, flourishing branches. From 
this, stem sprang-the Earls of Westmorland,. Salis¬ 
bury* . and Warwick, the Marquis of Montalcth, a 
Duke. of . Bedford, the Barons Furnival, Latimer,.. 
Fjacqnbridge, and Abergavenny. 



RICHMOND*. 


79 


Thus as briefly as the nature of the subject 
would allow, has been, sketched the Historical 
account of the Marls of Richmond from the first 

*'/ ... . . 4 # t S L ■ r' . \ l 

of the family of Bretagne, who enjoyed that 
title, to the last. It was often necessary to 
enter into foreign matter, which had not much 
connexion with this place, and which local 

History is more or less subject to, in order to 

‘ 

describe in some measure the state of the Honour 
and Earldom through these confused times* 
The many changes it underwent, sometimes 
being in the hands of the kings of England, at 
other times recovered by the Dukes of Bretagne; 
the frequent transitions from one family to 
another, the title and profits often at the same 
time divided and in different hands ; all these 
events made the matter perplexing and difficult 
to be disentangled. 

The possessions of Richmond continued in 
the hands of the Earl of Westmorland till 
theyearl426, when he was slain. Henry Vi. im¬ 
mediately ordered his executor to deliver up the 
possession of it to his uncle John,, 
A. D« Duke of Bedford^ who had obtained 
1426. the reversion of it from his brother, 
IIe.nuy V. ; upon* whose death, ia* 


80 THE HISTORY OF 

1436 it remained for some time in the king's 
hands, till Edmund of Haddamhis half 
D. brother was created by Mm Earl of 
1453. Richmond, with this peculiar privi¬ 
lege, that he should take place in Par¬ 
liament next the Dukes. 

The Honour of Richmond settling at last in 
the Crown, through Henry, Earl of 
A. D. Richmond, becoming King of Eng- 
1485. land by the title of Henry VII. con¬ 
tinued there many years, 

A. D. 1525....H*nryFitzroy, natural son 
of Henry VIII. received from his father this 
Honour, and was created By him the first Duke 
of Richmond : he died in 1535 Without issue. 

A. D. 1613.. •. Lo&owrt, Duke of LeMnox, 
if as created Earl of Richmond in the tenth year 
of James l. and afterwards Duke <df Rich- 
men din 1023* 

A. t)i 1641. ...James Stewart, Duke of 
Lennox, and Earl of March, was created? 
Duke of Richmond by Charles I. 


RICHMOND. 


81 


A. D. 1655..,. .Esme succeeded his father, 

9 * n 

and dying young, all his titles fell to 

A. D. Charles, Earl of Litchfield, his 
1660. cousin German : he died without issue 
December 12, 1672, whilst on an em¬ 
bassy to Denmark. 

The Revenues and possessions had been- 
granted at different times to various 
A. D. persons, till at last the name only re- 
1675.. mained ; for on Charles IL. creating 
his natural son Charles Lennox, 
Duke of Richmond, there were no lands re¬ 
maining to be attached to it, except about six 
acres, which the walls of the Castle encircled : 
in this family it remains to this day. 

si* > •• ' ■> 5 .2 ■' $ 

Wjjat the value of the Honour of Richmond 
was, rnay be known from the particular ac¬ 
counts, which were taken of it, and brought 
into the King’s Treasury ; these arose from the 
inquest made after the death of Peter of Savoy 
in,>280, and from the estimations made under 
different Kings., Hut since the accounts brought 
into the Treasury may seem to be only parts of 
the profits, omitting these, mention shall be 
made of the pension paid to John of Bretagne 


82 


THE HISTORY OF 


for the Honour in 1245, the 39th oIHenby III. 
which was only 12001. English a year, with 
an additional supply of 200 marks, as a present 
from the King. Yet the inquest after the 
death of Peter produces a far larger sum ; the 
particulars of which are thus set down : 


In Nottinghamshire ... 
Lincolnshire 

Hertfordshire .. 

Sussex .. 

Norfolk. 

Yorkshire . 

Cambridge .. 


£. s. d. 

130 5 4 , 

1464 17 8 3-4 
86 11 10 1.4 
51 6 8 1-4 

80 0 0 
658 13 10 1-4 
371 4 0 


£ 2843 1 3 12 

which sura so far exceeds the former, that at 
first sight one would be apt to believe, 12001. 
was not the value of the Honour through the 
whole realm of England, but only the Earldom 
of Richmond, in the County of York, accord* 
ing to the very words of the grant, c< For the 
u extent and value of the Earldom, not the 
44 Honour of Richmond/* But then as the 
sum of 1200 l is almost double the sum, which 
the inquest, made only 36 years after the first 
donation, and 20 after the last, assign* for the 









RICHMOND. 


83 


value of that part situated in Yorkshire, it 
cannot be doubted, but that was the full esti¬ 
mation of the whole Honour, which from the 
last grant is evident to have been very uncer¬ 
tain, and not thoroughly known till the inquest 
before named seems to have most clearly defined 
it. How happens it then that John of Bretagne, 
sou of John I. after this inquest, when he de¬ 
livered in 1332 this Honour to the Countess of 
Pembroke, received no more than 18001. a 
year from the profits of it ? So great an in¬ 
equality between the pension and the estimation 
must have arisen from the incumbrances and 
outpayments, to which it was subject, and 
which were to be discharged by the possessor. 
It cannot be supposed that the Countess would 
be so tied down for the yearly payment of so 
large a pension out of the principal, without 
leaving any profits for her own use. 

The value of money at that time was far 
greater than at present, so that these two pen¬ 
sions must have been a plentiful provision, besides 
the appendages attached to it, namely, the 
forests, the advowsons of livings, and present¬ 
ations of the monasteries not included in the 
donation, which must be considered as of great 
value. 


$4 THE HISTORY OF 

In that inquest are mentioned the names and 
estates of many ancient families, that formerly 
flourished in the Earldom of Richmond, and.the 
right of free warren h which i ach of them had in 
their lands; likewise the privileges of Fairs 
and Markets granted to towns, that once en¬ 
joyed them, many of which are now in ruins, 
and retain the names of small and insignificant 
villages, tbe very remembrance of their former 
flourishing condition having perished. 

f Free Warren is a franchise granted for the pre¬ 
servation of game, which being feres n a tu rce evpry on e 

t : i 

had a right to kill as he could* but upon the introduc¬ 
tion of the Forest Laws at the Norman conquest, these 
animals being looked upon as Royal Game, and the sole 
property of the Kings, litis franchise of Free Warren 
was invented to protect them, by giving the Lords of 

Manors a sole and exclusive power of killing such game 
‘ ^ • * 

as far as their W'arrens extended, on condition of their 

x- .1 

preventing other persons. 









































































































THE CASTLE. 


“ Nec manet ut fuerat, nee formam sci'vat eandem, 
“ SeU tamen ipsaeadem est.” 


r r 

* Hh I raveller, on approaching Richmond, 
cannot avoid being struck with admiration ar.d 
wonder at the very" first sight of the Castle, nor 
does a nearer view deceive his expectations. 
Its elevated situation and venerable ruins, 
partly covered with ivy, make it the most pro¬ 
minent feature in the landscape; and from 
whatever side it is seen, it affords a pleasing 
object, equally interesting to the anti -nary and 
landscape paiuter. 

Castles, designed for residence as well as for 
defence, are not of higher antiquity than the 
Norman invasion. Some have assigned them to 
a more remote period, but if that had been the 
case, they were either through neglect or in¬ 
ti 


THE HISTORY OF 


80 

vasions little more than ruins at that time* 
This has been given as a reason, why William 
made so easy a conquest of England, anti this 
circumstance led him soon after to erect them. 
His followers also were induced to do the same 
thing, in order to secure their newly acquired 
possessions from the repeated attacks of the 
outlawed and enraged former proprietors, 

A. D. 1071... .Alan Rufus, being settled 
among the most warlike of these exiles, was 
compelled to build a habitation, not only for a 
Princely residence, but also for a place of 
security to himself and followers. The strongest 
part of his territories was fixed upon, and there 
in 107 L lie laid the foundations of the Castle of 
Richmond. The almost perpendicular rock, 
on which it stands, and the river nearly sur¬ 
rounding it on the South and East, must have 
made it, according to the mode of warfare used 
at that time, a strong and impregnable fortress. 
It was encompassed with a high wall nearly 
half a mile about, embattled and flanked with 
lofty towers of two or three stories high, the 
lodgings of the principal officers; some of 
these towers had an open gallery on the outside 
of the inner wall, supported by projecting cor- 


RICHMOND. 


8? 


bels, which kept open the communication round 
the top : at the inside were placed the habita¬ 
tions of the owner and his warlike retainers. 

At the south side the walls were built with 
massy stones, parts of t he natural rock on which 
it was erected; which, on levelling and clearing 
tiie summit, were used for that purpose, and 
laid as regularly as their shapes would admit ; 
the insides were tilled up with small materials 
mixed with fluid mortar, which from age has 
become harder and more impenetrable than the 
rock itself. The west was secured by a deep 
valley, the ascent from which was very steep 
and difficult. The eastern descended in a 
gradual slope to the river, and was doubly de¬ 
fended, not only by the walls of the Castle, 
hut by those of the Cockpit. On the north it 
was secured by a moat ; the part next the town, 
being only a little elevated above the adjoining 
ground, was its weakest side. To secure this, 
it being also the principal entrance, 
A. D Conan, about seventy five years after 
1146. the first erection, among his other re¬ 
pairs, built the great square tower 
54 feet long and 48 wide : the walls of which 
from their extraordinary thickness have braved 

H 2 


88 


THE HISTORY OF 


the united attacks of time and weather, and re¬ 
main at this day in their original state ; they 
are 99 feet high and 11 thick, and ha^e 
Pinnacles resembling Watch Towers at the four 
corners, united by a battlement. It had a well 
of excellent water in it, which is yet remaining, 
being lately discovered in the midst of rubbish; 
but from whence supplied with w ater cannot 
now be ascertained. This tower contains three 
stories ; the lower one is supported by a heavy 
column in the centre, from which spring circular 
arches meeting at the top, and within these few 
years was in a perfect state. From the bottom 
a circular Staircase leads to the first apartment, 
which has three windows larger than usual in 
such buildings and with semicircular arches 
supported by round pillars. From this, a pas¬ 
sage is cut to the upper chambers through the 
middle of the wall, near the door-way which 
led to the battlements. The floors of these last 
two are falim in, and now in ruins, having 
been supported by beams resting upon a stone 
pillar in the middle. From the great height of 
this Tower the besieged had a view of all the 
neighbouring country, and from hence they 
could see with every advantage all the motion? 
<$f the enemy, and be ready prepared to resist 


RICHMOND 


89 


any hostile attack. To strengthen this, an 
outwork, called the Barbican, was built before 
it, which was a strong high wall with turrets 
upon it, designed for the defence of the gate 
and drawbridge. In the course of this wall 
was placed the great gate of the Castle, machi- 
colated and strongly fortified with a Tower on 
each side : rooms were built over the passage, 
which was closed with thick folding doors of 
oak plated with iron, and with an iron port¬ 
cullis occasionally let down in grooves from 
above. The open space within this was called 
the Bailey, where were the quarters of the 
Constable and Guard with long narrow windows, 
which admitting but little light, rendered the 
apartments within dark and uncomfortable. 
On the top of these walls and on the Hat roofs 
of the buildings stood the defenders of the 
Castle, .and from hence they discharged arrows, 
darts, and stones, on the besiegers. 

In the south eastern corner is now remaining 
a Tower about 14 feet deep, supposed to have 
been either a cellar or place of confinement : 
from this Tower a secret subterraneous passage 
is said to have gone under the bed of the river 
to St. Martin’s Priory, throng!) which the fe¬ 
ll 3 


00 TItE-ftlSTORY OF 

male part of the inhabitants in times of danger 
retired for protection ; but there seems to be 
no foundation for these reports, as it appears 
only to have been a Staircase to the upper 
apartments of the great Ilall of Scolland, and 
the door-way at the bottom, the entrance from 
the court. 

Thebe is another Tower in the south-west 
corner, high and narrow', having ho door-way 
or outlet either to the inside or the out, so that 
any thing put in, must have been let down from 
the top : this with greater probability has been 
the place of confinement. 

The place now called the Cockpit, must 
have been built some time after the other parts 
of the Castle, as it is not included in the strong 
line of wall, which surrounds the top of the 
hill, nor is it strengthened with Towers or 
other strong places of defence. It in all pro- 
bability was enclosed for offices, and to secure 
cattle and merchandise on any sudden invasion. 
There appears likewise to have been a garden 
in it for the use of the garrison, as in the ac¬ 
count of the Revenues, belonging to the Priory 
of St. Martin, compiled by John Liddel a 


RICHMOND. 


91 


Monk and Bursar of that house in the 20th 
year of IIenry VII. mention is made of that 
Priory enjoying the tithes of the Castle-Mill 
and Castle.Garden. 

The machines used in building this Castle, 
shew the great knowledge which our forefathers 
possessed in mechanical powers, as they must 
have been capable of raising heavy weights to a 
great height; for stones of a large size appear 
in different parts placed almost at the top. The 
quantity of materi als, and the collecting them to¬ 
gether from various parts, must have been a 
work of immense labour, and nothing but a 
princely fortune could have completed a work 
of such magnitude. If buildings upon so ex¬ 
tensive a scale were to be wanted in these times, 
it would be thought almost impossible to ac¬ 
complish the erection of them, and perhaps an 
attempt would not be made. 

This Castle, thus fortified in the strongest 
manner the situation of the place afforded, was 
capable of sustaining a regular siege; and 
from the extent of ground it covered, and the 
numerous buildings it contained, was a suffi¬ 
cient security to the Lord and the numerous 


92 


fllE HISTORY OF 


Inhabitants of his large district with their goods 
and cattle, whenever compelled to defend 
themselves either from the invasion of a foreign 
enemy, or from the attacks of a domestic 

l’oc. 

The Earls, being allied to the Royal Family 
not only by birth but by marriages, lived here 
in almost regal pomp. I hey had their Con¬ 
stable, Seneschal, bailiff, Chamberlain, chief 
Steward, and all the other great Officers, 
which belong to the Castle of a Sovereign 
Prince; most of these liad large Estates at¬ 
tached to their respective offices. All this 
Princely establishment made this Castle of 
greater consequence and very different from the 
other ones, which arose some time after in 
various parts, as Ravenswath Castle, Bolton, 
Middleham, &c. These were intended for 
other purposes, merely for the principal resi¬ 
dence of the Baron, built in a castellated form, 
and more or less fortified according to the 
power of the Lord and the situation of the 
ground. Oftentimes, for this occasion, no¬ 
thing more was necessary than a large square* 
building, with a court in the centre, capable 
of resisting the predatory attacks of robbers, 


t 


RICHMOND. 


93 


vi no durst never stop to make a regular siege, 
and if repulsed, instantly lied away, 

The ancient appearance of the Castle, as is 
shewn in the Plate, was taken about the end of 
the reign of Henry III. or the beginning of 
that of Edward i. and gives nearly a correct 
view of the buildings as Conan left them, and 
the stations of the guards, distinguished by 
their respective standards. When A can Ku¬ 
rus, according to the custom of the time, made 
his followers and retainers partakers of his 
good fortune, he with a liberal hand distributed 
among them Lordships and Manors, for which 
they were to perform military service, and 
keep watch and ward in the Castle at different 
times of the year, each in proportion to his 
property. According to their several offices 
they had various stations assigned them in the 
Castle from this we find that the g»eat Hall 


f Castle Guard was a service, which, in tlie wars 
of the Kin^, or rather of the Lord, consisted in fighting, 
or defending the Castle. The Earls of Richmond 
seem to have so required of their vassals the custody of 
the Castle, that each of them, at appointed months of 
the year, should take the charge of the Castle. But 
sjnee they possessed lands of different value, if is not to 




94 THE HISTORY OF 

of Scolland owes its name to one Scolland, Lord 


be supposed, that each stopped a whole month in his 
turn, but according to the estimation of his property, he 
sooner or later went away after his own concerns : hence 
we find, that some discharged their office at one month, 
others at another ; one stayed a fortnight, another three 
or four weeks. This burden, so grievous to the vassals 
and not advantageous to the Lord, was changed into a 
money payment, called Fines or Castle Guard Rents: 
and the Richmonders redee ned themselves from the 
yoke of this servitude, by paying half a mark for each 
Knights’ fee. The number of carucates in a fee is very 
uncertain, 8, 10, 14, 18, and even 20, sometimes more 
sometimes less, according to the quality of the land : 
also the munificence or parsimony of the Lord is to be 
considered, some acting more sparingly, others more 
profusely in requiring greater or easier services. In 
general, six carucates of land each about 120 acres, made 
in this district one fee, which was valued at 6s. 8d.: so 
when any part of that fee was sold, a certain proportion 
ol 6s. 8d. went along with it, according to the quantity 
or value of the land disposed of. From this circum¬ 
stance, we have in Riehmondshire at this time many 
small trilling Castle Guard Rents, which with other 
Rents in the Dutchy of Lancaster payable to the King, 
were on the 22d of Charles II. vested in Trustees to be 
sold. Since that time they have been paid to receivers, 
who collect them twice a year for different persons, that 
by various means have got grants of them. There are 
Egerton’s Fees, Tempest’s, &c. These are the pro¬ 
portions of the Fee settled upon the lands for which they 
are paid. 



RICHMOND. 


95 


of Bedale, chief Steward to Earl Alan. This 
spacious Hall 72 feet long by 27 broad, was 
the place of festivity and mirth, and where the 
Owner, .with a splendour little inferior to 
royalty, displayed his unbounded hospitality, 
by entertaining his numerous retainers and 
friends; and from the ornamented windows and 
other remains of carved work in it and the ad¬ 
joining buildings, this situation appears to have 
contained the principal apartments, and to 
have been the residence of its noble master. 
The Standard marked No. 1. or, a chief in¬ 
dented az. was the station of Ranulphus, son 
of Robert, Lord of Middleham*, at the 
Chapel of St. Nicholas on the East, No. 2. a 
barry of ten or, and gu. the station of Alan, 
son of Roaldus+, the Constable, in the court 
before the great Tower. No. 3. a barry of six 
or. and gu. the station of BrianJ, son of 


* See Pedigree of Rub alp, Page 28. 
f See Pedigree of Emsant Musard, Page 58. 

X Brian derived his most noble race from Brian, 
second son of the third Alan of Richmond. He married 
Agnes of Bed ale, grand daughter and heiress of Scot¬ 
land, by whom he obtained the lands of Scolland at the 
Town of Bedale. He obtained in the 2d. year of King 
John, Free Warren of all his lands, and was Sheriff of 



90 


THE HISTORY OF 


Alan, and Lord of BedAle, in the great Hall 
of£col!and. No. 4. vair, ar. and az. a fess gu. 

Yorkshire in the 22d. of Henry III. : but of the lime of 
his death there is no account. lie had a son named 
Alan, who obtained from IIknry III. in the 35th year 
of his reign, liberty to have a Market and Fair at his 
'Manor at Bed ale. Alan’s son, Brian, in whom the 
male heirs of this illustrious family failed, accompanied 
Edward I. in the 5th year of his reign, to the wars in 
Wales. He was in very great favour with that illus¬ 
trious Prince, who made him one of the guardians of the 
kingdom of Scotland ; in which office he conducted 
himself so well, that he deserved to have had that pro- 
Ain ce afterwards committed to his sole care as Viceroy. 
He not only brought great assistance to the King in 
Scotland, but being summoned to a Parliament, con¬ 
tinued seven years a Member of it among the English 
Barons till hi* death. He Avas buried with his wife, 
whose name is not knoAvn, in the South aisle of Bedale 
Church under a Mausoleum, very beautifully covered 
with gold and various colour?. This tomb is now to be 
seen in the north Avail, to which place it was removed 
about 110 years ago. Ilis daughters, Matilda and 
Catharine, having married Gilbert de Stapjlton and 
John Grey of Rotlierfield, divided their paternal inherit¬ 
ance between these tw o families. 

Thomas, son of Brian, a Priest, lies under an arch 
in the Avail of the same church, distinguished by no in • 
scription and no arms, except a book placed upon his 
breast, having the image of Christ fixed to a cross on 




RICHMOND. 



the arms of the Mahmyons§ between the 
kitchen and kennel, shew the station of that 
family ; though that situation is given to Toit- 
FHINUS+, son of Robert of Manfield. This 
may in some measure account for it; John 
M arm yon married Avici A, the heiress of 
Gernagot son of Hugo, whose Mother was 


the back of it. But since the Church of Bedale acknow¬ 
ledged this family as its patron, and Thomas, son of 
Brian as its Rector in the reign of Henry III. one may 
venture to pronounce it to be his Tomb, nud that he 
was the son of Brian Fitz-Alan, who in the reign of 
Henry III. was Sheriff of the County of York. This 
Rector was also a Witness* to a Deed, -dated 1294, 
giving to the Church a portion of the goods of deceased 
people. 

♦ See Appendix, No. 1. 

§ Ro*er Marmyon was present at the battle between 
William and Harold, and fought like a noble and va¬ 
liant Chevalier: he acquitted himself so well in that 
battle, that he was deservedly rewarded with many large 
possessions in England. 

f Torphincs lived in the reigns of Henry IT. Rich¬ 
ard I. and Henry III. j for Earl Alan, who died the 
17th of Ilenry II. confirmed to him the lands of his 
great grand-father IIermerios ; among the Witnesses 
to a Deed, which Alan the Constable gave to .Tollands 
deNevylle, Chief Justice to Henry III. he is rccW- 
oned one. 


I 



98 


THE HISTORY OF 


Matilda, daughter of Torphinus, and by 
that means got the large possessions of that 
family. No. 5. az. three cheveronels inter- 

m 

laced, and a chief or, the station of Uandolf*, 

* Randolf derived his Pedigree from Bardolph, 
brother of Bodin, Lord of Ravenswath, and was grand¬ 
father to that Hugo, son of Henry, whose posterity 
took the surname of Fitz-Hugh. After four generations, 
the Estates descended to Hettry Fitz-Hugh, a very great 
Lord, and a very noble and valiant Gheralier; for in 
his youth he so much delighted in arms and tournaments, 
and so much was he endowed with sense and civility, 
that he was deservedly called the Peer of Nobility. 
Through his whole life he employed his time in making 
honourable voyages, as well to the Holy Land, as in the 
w ars of his Sovereign Henry Y. in Normandy, France, 
and other places, to whom he was Chamberlain during 
his reign. He made many journies beyond Jerusalem, 
even to the great city Cairo, where the Soldan lived: 
and on his return, fought w ith the Saracens and Turks; 
and landing at Rhodes, he, by the aid of God and the 
the assistance of the Knights, built there a Castle, which 
lie called the Castle of Peter. He died at Ravenswath 
in 1423. By his wife Elizabeth, daughter of Robert, 
brother and heir of John de M army on, sons of John 
Grey of Rotherfield he had a large issue: his wife 
died in 1427, and w as buried at Jorevaux, before the 
High Altar. 

Tue Fitz-IIuglis, descended from this long race of 
noble ancestors, nourished here till the time o* 




RICHMOND 


99 


son of Henry, on the west part of Scolland. No. 
6. sa. a saltire, or. the station of Conan, son of 
Ei.iAst, near the Court of the Tower on the 

Henry VII. being enriched by marriages with the heir¬ 
esses of the famous families of the Forneaux and M ar¬ 
my ons j their large possessions went at last by females 
to the Fienes, Lords Dacres, of the south, and to the 

Parrs. 

At Ravenswath are the ruins of an old Castle built 
by the Lords Fitz-Hugh ; in the Chapel of which, dedi¬ 
cated to St. John the Evangelist, a Chantry for two 
Priests was founded by Henry Fitz-IIugh the 8th. of 
Edward IV. valued al 6 1. 13s. 4d. a year, Here a gold 
Ring was found with this inscription in black letter 

IE, ME, TIEN.”' Leland thus notices this Castle: 

“ The Castle is a marshy ground, and a Parke on 
“ a little hanging grounde by it. The Lord Parr is the 
“ owner thereof. The Castle, excepting two or three 
“ square Towers and a fair Stable with a conduit coming 

r- 

“ to the Hall, has nothing memorable. The Parke is 
“ three miles in cumpasse.” 

f Conan, son of Elias, accompanies Torphinus among 
the Witnesses of the before mentioned Deed of Alan tli e 
Constable. The shield of the family of Clarevaux i s 
assigned to this station ; whether they reckon this Co¬ 
nan among their ancestors, or acquired his posses¬ 
sions by some other means, is uncertain ; yet from an 
inquisition made the loth, of Edward I. it is discovered, 
that these possessions had devolved on John de Claus 
vallibus. Richard Clarevaux, the 15th of Edward I\ 
had a grant of Free Warren in Crof$ upon Tees/ 




100 THE HISTORY OF 


east part at the outside of the wall. No. 7. 
az. a cross engrailed sa. the station of the 
Chamberlain|| on the cast part of Scotland near 
the oven. No. 8. az. on a fess sa. three be¬ 
zants, the station of Thomas de Brough*, 

(I Tue Fee of Chamberlain Ls frequently met with, 
but it is not easy to say whose it was : it is only found 
once, in Langthorne, with the name of the Chamberlain, 
which in that place is oneNigellus: yet there were at 
that time many Chamberlains of the Earl of Richmond* 
namely, Robert, Ernald, and Ralph, whose son seems 
to have been this Nigellus, and also Ernaldus, Robert’s 
son. Among the Villages of this Fee were, Kilwardeby, 
Askham, Eppleby upon Tees, and Feucotes, which, 
as they went afterwards to various possessors, leave the 
matter intirely in doubt. The arms which are here 
fixed to the Chamberlain, belong to one Conan de 
Xelfield, whose son Henry, the 15th of Edward I. had 
lands in the village of Eppleby, and Thomas, son of 
Henry, possessed the same in'the reign of Richard II. 
This Chamberlain therefore will either be the father or 
perhaps Step-father of Conan, since the Fee of Chamber- 
lain was divided between Richard le Scrope, Henry son 
of Hugo, and Thomas Fitz-Henry as the inheritance of 
three Sisters, co-heiresses. It is to be remarked that 
the Seneschal, Butler, and Chamberlain held their 
lands, not by virtue of their offices, but by military 
service. 

* Thomas de Brough lived in the reigns of Henry II. 
his sons and grandson; was Seneschal of the Honour of 




RICHMOND. 


101 


Seneschal, on the west part of the greater 
Chapel near the Canons within the walls. 
The station of Walter de Egglescliffe, 
Bailiff, between the square Tower and draw¬ 
bridge. All their Standards were displayed at 
their respective quarters, when they came either 
to partake of the hospitable table of the Chief, 
or to take their turn of military duty in the 
Castle. 

Several articles of antiquity have been dis. 
covered at different times among the ruins, 
some of which have been privately carried off and 
kept hid, others have been laid up in the cabi¬ 
nets of the curious. 

In the year 1732, Mr. Wharton of Newcas¬ 
tle, agent to the Duke of Richmond, by f I is 
Grace’s directions, ordered several places about 
the Castle to be dug very deep, when a moat 
and draw-bridge of curious workmanship were 
discovered. 

A curious horn and a large silver spoon were 

Richmond, and signed the Deed of Alan, the Consta¬ 
ble, with Torphinus, son of Robert, and with Couan, 
son of Elias. 

I 3 



the history op 


102 

found, when part of the west-end of the Castle 
fell down, and were sent to the Duke of Rich¬ 
mond. 

Not long since, a sword was picked up by a 
Traveller, having a hilt gilt, and curiously 
ornamented : this was taken also to London. 

About thirty-five yearsago, as a respectable 
Inhabitant of this town and one of his school¬ 
fellows were playing near the west wall of 
the Castle at breaking the hardest stones they 
could find, (or to use the juvenile expres¬ 
sion a fighting cocks”) one of the stones 
contained a full grown live Toad, which Was 
immediately destroyed : the stone had a smooth 
cavity in the inside for the Toad to lie in : but 
it as well as the wonderful phenomenon it con¬ 
tained, were unthinkingly left, and no further 
notice of the circumstance taken at the time. 

This Castle has been long in ruins, which 
cannot be attributed to any remarkable siege 
or military assault, but rather to the want of 
repairs, occasioned by the desertion of its chief 
and his military followers. When the Earldom 
was granted, which was frequently the case, to 


RICHMOND. 


IOS 

a Prince who hail foreign connexions or other 
paternal Castles, this place was no longer an 
object of attention ; and the possessions being 
given away at various times, when repairs wfero 
wanted, there were no revenues to answer the 
demands: thus it gradually became uninhabit¬ 
able, and when once deserted, ruin and delapi- 
dation very soon followed. That this was very 
early the case there is no doubt, as Leland, 
who in the year 1534 received an order from 
Henry VIII. to make a survey of the king¬ 
dom, mentions it in his Itinerary as a ruin at 
that time. The materials, when neglected and 
dispersed, were purloined or carried off either 
for the purpose of sale, or for the erection of 
more commodious habitations. The manners 

* .'.-'tv.- 

of men refining, and no longer afraid of hostile 
attacks, the large dreary rooms in Castles upon 
this extensive scale were no longer wanted ; 
and the convenient ornaments of sashes not 
being yet found out, the small narrow case¬ 
ments then in use made them very damp and 
gloomy lodgings, and only suitable to the in¬ 
habitants of those military and feudal ages, 
enured to brave the cold in camps and amidst 
the various employments of war. 

The Castle thus stripped of its splendour, 
and from being the Palace of a powerful Prince 


104 THE HISTORY OF 


and the head of an extensive Shire, has fallen 
to its present degraded state, and become a 
striking memorial of worldly instability. The 
lapse of so many years has overthrown its 
strong and lofty Towers, and on every side are 
seen the dreadful ravages, which have been 
made and are daily making, in walls raised by 
the utmost skill and supported by all possible 
strength. After having stood the war of ele¬ 
ments and the depredations of man above 740 
years, nothing now is left, but apoor vestige of its 
former strength and magnificence, and remains 
a melancholy monument of the destructive hand 
of time, 

** Whose gradual touch 
** Has moulder’d into beauty many a Tow’r 
“ And wall of this old Norman fortress huge, 

“ Which, when it frown’d with all its battlements, 
“ Was only terrible.” 





iH i 



THE TOWN. 

if * f{ ni?/ „•>* hjsl; 


n 


;,n 


• A 



ry 

■ IlliT own of Richmond was anciently con* 
fined within very narrow limits, and at first 
consisted only of the artisans and labourers em¬ 
ployed in building the Castle. These with their 
dependants and followers erected huts and sheds 
for themselves and cattle ; and as they in¬ 
creased in number, merchants of eveiy descrip¬ 
tion resorted with goods to supply their wants ; 
and the protection of a strong military garrison 
made the population greater, by drawing many 
others there for security. 

♦ * ? t • * . - * 1 • .* - • ’ f ti 

Town thus gradually formed, they fortified 
all round with ramparts made of wood and 
earth ; but these perishable materials not being 
found strong enough to resist repeated attacks, 
and repairs becoming very frequent, a strong 
wall was built with stone. This vvjll inclosed 
little more than the present Market Place ; 
vestiges of it are still remaining, particularly in 



106 THE HISTORY OF 


Friar’s Wynd, where a Postern, made for the 
convenience of the inhabitants attending Divine 
Service at the Friary Church, still exists in a 
very perfect state, with part of the walls. The 
old gate-way at the Bar, still in being, shews 
the direction of the wall on the west side ; and 
in lately digging the ground-work for stables 
and a coach-house on the East, the foundations 
of the old wall were discovered, which seemed 
to join the Castle in that part called the Cock¬ 
pit : at the same time was found in tho wall a 
curious old foreign coin, a mixture of gold and 
silver, having the stern of an old fashioned ship 
bearing a flag on one side; on the reverse, four 
ileurs-de-lis in a lozenge; both sides surrounded 
with inscriptions engraven in characters re¬ 
sembling the Sueo-Gothic, but quite unintel¬ 
ligible. The entrance was by three gates, 
Frenchgate, Finkle Street, and Bargate : the 
two former were within these few years taken 
down to make room for the admissiou of waggons 
and other carriages of large dimensions. 

% 1 fi A/ta't ♦ , 4f \ 4-1 y . _ . i # •• 

These walls have been long neglected and 
almost entirely destroyed many ages since ; for 
that ancient historian before mentioned, in his 
topographical description of England, further 


RICHMOND. 


107 


says IC Richemonte Towne Is waulled, and the 
“ Castle on the River side of Swale is as the 
“ knot of the curapace of the waul: in the 
<c waul be three gates, Frenchgate on the 
northe parte of the Towne is the most occu« 
“ pied gate of the towne, Finkle Street Gate, 
u Bargate ; all these be down; vestiges yet 
u remain. In the Market Place is a large 
<c Chapel of the Trinite. The cumpace of the 
<c ruinus waulles is not half a mile about: so 
that the Towne waulls cumpasith little but 
u the Market-Place, the howses about it, and 
u gardens behind them. There is a suburbe 
“ without Frenchgate almost as bigge as both 
6i the other Suburbes. Finkle Street Suburbe 
iC strayt west from the Market-Place, and 
<c Bargate Suburbe. The Frenchgate Suburbe 
u is the Paroch Chirch of al the hole Towne. 

A little beyond the ende of Frenchgate 
u Streate is or was of late a Chapel of a woman 
<e Anachorette. Bargate Suburbe cummith 
<c downe to the Bridge ende of Swale, the 
which Bridge is sumetime chaynid. At this 
61 side the Bridge is no buildinge. In this 
<e Suburbe is a Chapel of St. James. Al) the 
a Towne and Suburbes be on the farther side of 
Swale.” 


108 Till) HISTORY OF 


Soon after the Erection of the Castle, open 
Fairs arul Markets were held in the Town, 
duties and tolls laid upon the goods exposed to 
sale, which were collected for the Earl by his 
Bailiff. This being attended with great in¬ 
convenience and discontent, Earl Alan 111 .* 
son of Stephen, for the reciprocal 

A. D. accommodation of all parties, granted 

1145. for ever to his Burgesses of Richmond 
his Borough and Lands called the 
Land of Fontenayf, in Fee-Farmt under a 
yearly rent of «j£ 29. and directs that they shall 
freely, quietly, and honourably, hold them in 
plains and in groves, in pastures and in 
meadows, and that they and their heirs shall 
hold the ssnie of him and his heirs for ever. 

* See Appendix, No. 2. 

f Though it is not supposed, that this territory was 
called the Land of Fontenay before tho Norman Inva- 
sion, for that word seems to have a Gallic origin, yet 
there is no doubt, but it was known by that name in the 
first years after the Conquest, for so it is called by 
Alan in his Charters, and in the same manner by his 
successors a long time afterwards. 

+ Fee-Farm Rents are certain Rents reserved to the 
Lord of the Fee on his first granting Lands, Towns, See. 
they were never less than a fourth part ef the annual 
value of the premises. 



RICHMOND. 


109 


A. D. 1146. ...The same Alan* again con. 
firms to the same Burgesses that liberty, which 
they had in the time of his uncle Alan and Ms 
father Stephen, and that they shall have and 
hold all their privileges quietly and in peace, 
with all their free customs within the Town and 
without, in plains and in woods. 

The Burgesses, haviug thus got the govern, 
went of the Town into their own hands, firmly 
confirmed to them by these two grants, and 
the avenue to wealth arid honour laid opeu to 
them by a manumission from slavery, immediately 
began to protect their new possession by build, 
ing a stone wall round it, not only for their 
own security, but for the better collecting the 
tolls and other advantages to be derived from 
so valuable an acquisition. 

A, D. 1150... .€onan+ , Earl of Richmond 
and Duke of Bretagne, granted and confirmed 
to the Burgesses of Richmond that liberty, which 
they had in the time of his ancestors. 


* See Appendix, No. 3. 
f See Appendix, No. 4v 


K 




110 


THE HISTORY OF 


A. D. 12G8....John, Earl of Richmond, 
during the life of his father John, soon after the 
Houourwas restored to his family,confirmed to the 
Burgesses of Richmond all their Fairs, Markets, 
Tolls, and other Privileges, at the time he was 
lodging at Joreraux Abbey ; and ordered a 
Fair to beheld in Richmond at the Feast of the 
lloly Cross. 

A. D. 1375... Edward I. by his Charter 
dated at Eltham the 3d. year of his reign, ra¬ 
tifies and confirms to the Burgesses of Rich, 
mond and their heirs the gift and grant, which 
John, by the name of John, Earl of Richmond, 
eldest son of the Duke of Bretagne, by his 
Charter for him and his heirs made to the Bur¬ 
gesses of Richmond of the Borough of Rich¬ 
mond, with Markets, Fairs, and Tolls, with 
all Rents of Assize and Attachments of the 
Pleas of the said Borough; and that they should 
have and hold all the Demesne of the said John 
of Richmond, called the Land of Fontenay 
w ith the appurtenances, with the whole Pasture 
of Wittcliff, with all other appurtenances, 
liberties, easements and free customs to the 
said Borough and Land of Fontenay every 
where belonging, within the Town and without, 


RICHMOND. 


Ill 

as in Moors, Woods, Plains, Meadows, Ways, 
Paths, Waters, Pastures, except a Tenter 
Ground, valued at 4 j£. a year, which Thomas 
son of Galfrid holds by Charter from the Earl, 
and three acres of land, which Jordan the 
plumber sometime held, “ To have and to 
hold to the said Burgesses and to their heirs 
freely, quietly, peaceably, and honourably, 
with all their right and district of the said 
Borough, ot him the said John and his heirs 
for ever, rendering yearly to the said John and 
his heirs the sum of 40 l.” 

Out of the said 401. John afterwards granted 
to Roald, son of Roaldus, Lord of Burton* *, 

* 4 > 

* All the lauds, which Thomas an Burtos hadrc 
ceived from his ancestors, the Constables of Richmond, 
he sold to Henry jle Scjzofjk iu the reign ofEdwardllL: 
Yet the village of Burton, which was called by them 
Constable Burton, and which had been iu the family 
more than two hundred years, he or Roaldus his father 
had before transferred to Galfrid le Scrope of Masliam ; 
for this Galfrid had obtained from Edward II. liberty to 
have a Market and annual Fairs in it. From his pos¬ 
terity it passed to Radulphus, son of Randolph of Spen- 
nithornef with Elizabeth one of the three daughters and 
co-heiresses of Ralph, Lord Scrope of Masham. At last 
for want of heirs male, it passed with Agnes one of the 

K 3 


i 



112 THE HISTORY OF 


and his heirs, Eleven Marks Six Shillings and 
Eightpence, (71. 13s. 4d.) a year; and com¬ 
manded his Burgesses to pay the same, and it 
would be allowed them out of their Rent: 
which sum was afterwards enjoyed by Henry 
le Scrope, Lord of Bolton, who a cquired the 
possessions of that family. The remainder 
(32 1. 6s. 8d.)was forfeited to Richard II. 
King of England, on account of the Duke’s 
intimate alliance with the French king, and 
remained in his hands till his dismission from 
the government of this kingdom. It, among 
many other things, came to Henry IV. and was 
by his son Henry V. granted to his brother 
John, Duke of Bedford, and his heirs male. 
The Duke dying without heirs, it reverted to 
the crown in IUnry VI. time, and was paid 

co-heiresses of Radulphus to Marmaduke Wyville* 
whose descendants enjoy it at this day. 

f The Ancestor of Radulphus, who had obtained 
from his father Robert, Lord of Middlehara and his 
mother Helewisia de Glanville, the Estate of Spenni- 
thorne, was Radulphus their third son: he fixed his 
habitation there, where his posterity, after having ac¬ 
quired a sufficiently rich inheritance, flourished many 
years under the name of Fitz-Randolphs of Spenni- 
thorae, till it passed, with one of the co-heiresses to 
others. 



RICHMOND. 



by the Burgesses and their heirs for the afore, 
said Fee-Farm of the town of Richmond. 

The Town, both before and after the grant 
of John, was well peopled with numerous Bur¬ 
gesses, able merchants, artificers, and other 
inhabitants. Travellers from the neighbouring 
parts, and from the counties of Lancaster, Cum¬ 
berland and Westmorland came with merchan¬ 
dise of all sorts to be sold in the Markets every 
Saturday. People also resorted there to buy 
up grain and bread for the supply of Lonsdale, 
Craven, Dent, and Sedbergh, at which places 
a sufficiency of corn did not at that time grow, 
grazing being the chief and only pursuit of the 
Farmer. For which reason the Inhabitants of 
the Town and Neighbourhood were so careful 
of the grain and bread in their own use as to 
have a continual supply for the Markets and 
Fairs ; and the Burgesses with little difficulty 
raised the greater part of the said Fee-Farm 
Rent from the Tolls collected at those times. 
But many years were hardly elapsed, before 
they could scarce raise One Hundred Shiilings; 
for soon after John’s grant, weekly Markets 
were held in the neighbouring Towns of Mid- 
dleham, Bedale, Masham, Staindrop, and Bar. 

K 3 


114 THE HISTORY OF 

nardcastle, so that travelling merchants did not 
frequent the Town as usual; and the distant 
Countries, instead of being wastes and moors, 
becoming more fruitful in grain than usual, 
caused the carriers of corn to withdraw from 
the Town. To increase the calamity, a Piagus 
and Epidemic Diseases consumed about 2000 of 
the Inhabitants, so that Wittcliff pasture be¬ 
came a waste, overrun with briars, nettles, and 
other noxious weeds. Some of the Burgesses, 
upon their uot being able to raise the Rent for 
the reasons before mentioned, left their habita¬ 
tions, and departed like mendicants with their 
wives and children. No new Inhabitants 
coming to supply their places, the remainder, 
not able scarce to raise a third part of their 
Rent, petitioned Henry VI. to take their 
situation into his most serious consideration, 
and ease them of the yearly sum, which 
A. D. they paid for their Charter. The 
1441. King, in the 19th. year of his reign, 
haring considered the petition of the 
said Burgesses, out of his gracious fa¬ 
vour, granted them all the premises given 
by his predecessors, on their paying half 
yearly at the Feasts of Pentecost and St. 
Martin in the Winter, an annuity of 12 ]. to 


RICHMOND. 


115 


him and his heirs for ever, and to Henry le 
Scrope and his heirs 71. 13s. 4d. at the same 
periods: as for the residue of the said Fee- 
Farm of 401. he remitted it for ever. 

This 121. is the only remains of the ancient 
rent of 401. a year reserved by the Earl of 
Richmond, on his granting to the then Bur¬ 
gesses the lands of Fontenay and the pasture of 
Wittcliff, with the Tolls, Fairs, Markets, &c. 
now enjoyed by the present Corporation. It 
is now paid by the Mayor for the time being to 
the receiver of the Crown Rents, who by a 
grant from Queen Elizabeth pays it back to 
him, and he distributes it yearly,-about Christ¬ 
mas to the poor decayed Tradesmen and .other 
indigent persons of the Town ; this is now 
called the Audit Money. 

I . * ; x • 

The other Fee-Farm of 71. 13s. 4d. paid 
to Lord Scrope, after passing through various 
hands, now belongs to University College, Ox- 
ford, a bequest from the Reverend ML Kay^ 
late Rector of Melsonby, who was formerly 
Fellow of that College. 

From the several Charters and Confirm* 
ations before mentioned, it appears that the 


116 THE HISTORY OF 

site or district of the Borough of Richmond, 
certain lands called Fontenay and the pasture 
ofWittcliff, were vested in the Burgesses of 
Richmond and their heirs for ever. What 
particular lands those were, called the lands of 
Fontenay, or where they now lie, at this dis¬ 
tance of time cannot be ascertained : but it may 
reasonably be supposed, that they were the 
same as are now called the Gallow Field, the 
West Field, and the high and low East Fields. 
The prima tonsura or Summer Herbage of these 
lands having been granted at various times by 
the then Corporation to divers persons, they by 
Act of Parliament in the year 1803 enclosed 
the same : the Corporation receiving a large 
allotment in right of Lord of the Manor and 
in lieu of foggage or after eatage. 

Concerning theTownof Richmond, though 
the seat and head of a very rich Honour, little 
or nothing is mentioned in any public record. 
The Liber Censualis conceals it entirely as not 
founded at that time ; but for what reason it 
was for so many ages condemned to so deep a 
silence, it is not easy to determine; unless 
ttyat when the Earls, having reserved to them¬ 
selves only a Fee-Farm Rent, endowed it with 


RICHMOND. lit 

various privileges, it had be*n looked upon as 
under its own government, and therefore not 
brought into any county valuation. Thus ex¬ 
empt from all country jurisdiction and left to 
itself, it was at first governed by a Burgh-reve, 
afterwards for many years by a Corporation 
under various names ; at first by the 
A. D. name of Bailiffs and Burgesses; after. 

1576 . wards by (he 19th. of Elizabeth 
under the name of Alderman and Bur. 
gesses, By this CharterJ ames Cotterell was 
the first Alderman; John Teasedale, Thomas 
Wraye, Lawrence Moyser, Ralph Ack. 
niGE, Ralph Ewbank, Thomas Willance, 
John Barker, William Coward,William 
Heioii yngton, James Clarkson, Richard 
Kay, and Christopher M or land, were tho 
first capital Burgesses, and Robert Smelt 
first Recorder or Seneschal, it gave all the 
Inhabitants of the said Borough, or the greater 
part of them assembled for that purpose on St. 
Hilary’s Day, power to elect on*> of the said 
Burgesses to be Alderman, who had Frank* 
pledge of all the Inhabitants twice a year in a 
place called Trinity Church. It gave to the 
Alderman and capital Burgesses, upon a va¬ 
cancy of one of the said Burgessea by death or 


118 THE HISTORY OP 


removal from the Town, power to choose 
another Burgess out of the inhabitants of the 
Borough. It also gave to the Alderman and 
Burgesses, whenever a Parliament was assem. 
bled, full power and authority to choose two 
discreet and honest men, Burgesses of the 
Town, to be Burgesses of Parliament, at the 
burden and cost of the said Borough. 

A. D. 1668.. ..This continued till the time 
of Charles II. who by a new Charter dated. 
March 14, 1668, incorporated it by the name 
of the Mayor and Aldermen of the Borough of 
Richmond. This Charter appointed William 
Wetwange to be the first Mayor, and to re¬ 
main in office till the Feast of St. Hilary, and 
until another of the Aldermen be appointed and 
sworn to the office of Mayor : it nominated 
Henry Sobhr, Richard Dawson, Henry 
Broderick, John Bartlett the Elder, Jo¬ 
seph Hopps, John Kay, Henry Cowling, 
Henry Bartlett, Robert Wilson, John 
Bartlett the Younger, Thomas Heardson, 
and Edward Wyvill to be the first Twelve 
Aldermen; it also appointed James Met- 


* Sek Appendix, No. 5. 



1 


RICHMOND. 119 

calf, Esq. to be Recorder or Steward, and 
James Close. Town Clerk* This Charter 
being accepted, was the first that made the 
chief Magistrate a Mayor, which has been re* 
tained ever since. There has been fome vari¬ 
ation from Charles’s Charter, as the present 
Corporation consists of a Mayor, Recorder or 
Steward, Twelve Aldermen, Town Cleik, 
Twenty four Common Councilmen, and Two 
Serjeants at Mace. 

Charles’s Charter enacts, that for ever 
after, the Mayor, Aldermen, and Free Bur - 
gesse$\ of the Town and Borough of Richmond 
should be incorporated by the name of Mayor 
and Aldermen; that upon the Feast of St. Hilary 
in every year, the Aldermen shall name two 
of the Twelve Aldermen, and that all the In• 
habitants (omnes inhabitantes) of the Borough; 
or major part o,f them assembled for that pur¬ 
pose, shall choose one of these two to be 

f Liberi Burgensks mean Freeholders, or rather 
those Inhabitants who occupy a house in the Borough, 
and pay Scot and Lot$ and not those who receive 
Alms or any Charity, or are in a state of servitude as 
Servants, Apprentices, Bondmen, who ware supposed 
not to have a free will of their own. 



I2Q THE HISTORY OP 

Mayor for the ensuing year, who, fa to bfc 
sworn lata office on the first following Tuesday. 
This privilege of choosing the Chief Magis¬ 
trate the inhabitants in general have lost, and 
it is now lodged in what are called the Freemen. 
This Freedom is acquired by serving seven years 
Apprenticeship to a Freeman, or by Birth, 
that is, the eldest son of a Freeman, These 
Freemen are divided into thirteen com* 
panics, each having a Warden of Us own, who 
is chosen every year. Formerly none but 
Freemen could be admitted into these compa¬ 
nies, but the exclusive privilege which theybad, 
of setting up a trade, and exposing goods to 
sale before Twelve o'clock either in a shop o? 
in the fvJarket.Fiaee on a Saturday being lost, 
they are chosen promiscuously out of the In¬ 
habitants or Neighbourhood on paying a cer¬ 
tain sum of money, 

A Freeman of Richmond hail formerly other 
great advantages ; ho, on taking With him a 
Copy of the Grant signed by the Mayor and 
sealed with the Corporation Seal, could travel 
through the whole kingdom without pontage, &c. 
and expose his goods to sale in any Town free of 
the usual tolls. 


* See Appendix, No. 6. 



RICHMOND. 


121 


Tiie archives of the mercers, grocers, and 
haberdashers go so far back as 1580, and a 
regular succession of Wardens has been in¬ 
serted : the Rules and Regulations for their 
government are dated in 1702, which received 
the sanction of the then judges. A valuable 
Silver Bowl and Ladle, a noble PegTanhardf 
and two cocoa-nut Cups tipped with silver are 
in their possession ; some of them the gifts of 
the Wardens, others bought out of the fines. 
The other companies have also their Plate, 
land, &c. 


f Peg Tanrard is an ingenious device of marking or 
pegging cups at certain d istanccs to prevent a mail 
taking a greater draught than his neighbour : but after¬ 
wards it was productive of great excess: for refining 
upon the plan to drink precisely to a pin, it became a 
rule, that whether they exceeded or fell short of the pre- 
scrilied mark, they were compelled to drink again till 
they reached the next mark. Hence when a person is 
elated, we say, “ he is a Peg too high meaning that 
he had exceeded his right mark, and reached that which 
had deprived him of his usual sobriety : and “ he is a 
Peg too low,” is that a person is not in equal spirits 
with his company, by being restrained from drinking 
his proper number of Pegs. These Tankards are gene¬ 
rally filled with spiced ale and a toast in it. 

L 



122 THE HISTORY OF 


Thu mode of electing the Mayor by the 
Freemen was formerly by what was then called 
a Close Poll, that is, a Majority of the thirteen 
companies. Each company assembled in its 
own flail, and a Majority then present decided 
for that company. The Wardens afterwards 
gave to the Town-Clerk the state of their re¬ 
spective, Polls, and he who had a Majority of 
companies, was declared the successful Candi¬ 
date : but now it is by an open Poll, that is, 
every Freeman goes into, the Common HaU 
and votes promiscuously as he pleases. 

The office of Mayor or Prefect of a Town 
from the British Miret, that is* custodire* 
is a place of great trust and honour, and if ex¬ 
ercised in its full extent, is very nearly an 
absolute government* Every person of whaU 
ever quality, living or residing within the 
liberties, must obey his mandate, or summons 
upon any complaint exhibited against him. 
He has frankpledge of ail the Inhabitants, and 
is coroner within the limits of the Borough 
during his Mayoralty. This great officer is 
annually chosen, it being impolitic to trust so 
much power in one man’s hands too long. He 
is likewise a Justice of Peace within the Bo- 


RICHMOND. 123 

rough for the year after resigning his oflice of 
Mayor. 

The Recorder is nominated by the Mayor 
and Aldermen. This is a place of honour 
more than profit: life must be a' Barrister at 
Law, whose office is to be an assistant to the 
Mayor and Bench. He is their public orator, 
not only in addressing Princes, when they visit 
the Borough, but also in directing Juries, and 
summing up evidences. He is to take care 
that the privileges of the Corporation are not 
infringed, that the ancient records are pre¬ 
served, and that Justice is administered ao 
wording to the laws of the land : during his 
continuance in office he is a Justice of Peace 
within the liberty. 

The Aldermen are now by a by-law ejected 
out of the Common Council 'only, though this 
law could easily ? be set aside; for no law con¬ 
trary to the Charter can be binding, nor can it, 
If -originally bad, ! be made good by length df 
time. The -charter expressly says ** That the 
Aldermen shall be elected out of the Inhabit 
tants in general,” without •confining k to this 
or that description of people. This by-law was 

L 2 


124 THE HISTORY OF 


set aside in 1772, when our present worthy 
Town Clerk, though at that time not a Com¬ 
mon Councilman, was elected an Alderman; 
he was afterwards without any reasonable cause 
removed, but a mandamus* from the King’s 
Bench soon reinstated him in the place of one 
of the Aldermen. This last office he afterwards 
resigned ; for on a trial at York some time 
after, it was found incompatible for one person 
to hold the offices of Alderman and Town 
Clerk at the same time. This word Alderman, 
though no\y appropriated to citizens and towns¬ 
men of a Corporation, was anciently a title of 
very high degree ; witness this Epitaph in Ram¬ 
sey Monastery Hie requiescit Ailwinus, in. 
44 clyti regls Edgari cognatus, totius Angliae 
44 Aldermanus, et hujus sacri ccenobii miracu- 
44 lose fundator. ” The term comes from the 
English Saxon ./Elder, which means an elderly 
man, Prince or Senior ; so that vElderman sig¬ 
nifies as much as a princely Senator, and w as 
turned by them into titles of dignity. But yet 
it is not easy to determine, when the title 
dropt from an Alderman of all England to an 
Alderman of a corporation. 


* See Appendix, No. 7, 



RICHMOND. 


125 


The Town Clerk is chosen by the Mayor 
and Aldermen, and his name sent to the Chan¬ 
cellor for his Majesty’s approbation before be 
can act. 

The Common Council are elected by them¬ 
selves out of the inhabitants : they nominate two 
who are called lights from the Teutonick Lieght, 
lucidus, which signifies a person esteemed 
worthy of this honour by the splendour of his 
fortune or his other shining qualities ; these 
two they send to the Aldermen, who fix upon 
one of them. They are supposed to represent 
the whole of the Inhabitants, and are at all 
times to be attending upon the Mayor, when 
duly summoned, for the sake of advising and 
consulting the public good of the Tows. They 
have also such an authority, that in some cases 
the Mayor and Aldermen cannot act without 
them, as in letting or disposing of the Town’* 
Revenues, in all other acts which require the 
common Sea!, and in making by-laws, wherein 
every Inhabitant either by himself or his rc- 
presentative is supposed to give his con¬ 
sent*. 


h 3 


* See Appewdix, No. 8. 




126 


THE HISTORY OP 


T»e Serjeants at tMace are chosen by the 
Mayor and Aldermen, or the -major part of 
them; these are to he attendants on the Mayor 
for the execution of process, precepts or other 
business. 

The ^Revenues of the Mayor arise from the 
Tolls of the Fairs and Markets, which were 
formerly granted to enable him the more ‘liber¬ 
ally to keep hospitality and the better -support 
of his dignity 5 but they are now become private 
emoluments, the old hospitable customs being 
laid aside. The Tblls of the Market are 
stallage, and the toll of corn only, not of any 
other pro vision; from every boll is taken one 
dishful of toll, and 16 of these dishes are to 
contain a peck. No corn to be exposed for 
sale till half-past Yen o’Clock, when the Toll- 
Bell rings; after that, the Market is free, and no 
obrn to be carried away till the toll be -ga¬ 
thered. . 

There are several pieces of plate, which the 
Mayor for the time being has the custody of, 
as two large Silver Maces gilt, two large Silver 


JLicmMvsn. 127 

Punch-Bowla, Silver Tat&ards, a Silver Cup 
given iby Wiilance as a memorandum of his 
great escape, on which is engranren u This 
Boulle given by Rocaiittr 'Wiuuutitk to tine 
incorporated Alderman and Burgesses of Rich- 
mond to be used by /the A ldearman lor the tyroe 
being and to be redelivered by him, his ex¬ 
ecutory or assignees, to his successors for 
ever... 1/606.’’ A two handled C^p with this 
Inscription; 4 4 The gift of Geo roe Moore 
of East Witton to the Mayor and Corporation 
of Richmond for ever, as a grateful acknow¬ 
ledgement of' their honest and zealous endea¬ 
vours to discover the execrable murderers -of 
his kinsman John Moore* of Gilling, per- 


* John Mock was a brazier at Galling, and attended 
this 31arket every Saturday to sell bis goods. On the 
16th of December, 1758, as he was returning home from 
the Market as usual, he was shot from his horse near 
Oliver. A Jury being summoned the next day by order 
of the Mayor as Coroner for the Borough, the body was 
examined by a Surgeon, and several pieces of lead taken 

out of its side. On the Jury bringing in a verdict df 

.... * ■ . , ? r , . * . 

wilful murder against some‘Person or Persons unknown, 
it was buried at Gilling. 'Some dispute arising soon 

after between Mr. Hutchinson, Steward to Sir Conyers 

« • 

Darcy and the Corporation of 'Richmond respecting the 



128 THE HISTORY OF 


petrated December 16,.1758. Henry Lan- 
chester, Mayor.** A Tankard called the 
Snow Tankard, on which is inscribed u The 
gift of Sir Mark Milbank, Bart, and John 
Hutton, Sen. Esq. to the Corporation after a 
disputed race in a great snow at Easter.*’ 

The Rents of the Corporation, which arise 
from lands and various other property, are 
collected by a Chamberlain, who is appointed 
every year by the Mayor. He, after receiving 
a certain allowance for his trouble, expends 
them in various improvements about the 
Town and in other incidental expences. These 
Rents are about 800 1. a year. 


The names of the Mayors, Recorders, 
and Town Clerks, since Charles’s Charter 


limits of the Parish, the body was taken up, and the 
Coroner for the North-Riding sent for ; the same ver* 
diet was brought in and it was again buried at the same 
place. Every exertion was made by the friends of the 

t t • “ **'■» i * • 

deceased and by the Corporation to find out the mur¬ 
derer, but without effect ; and though so many years 
have elapsed since it happened, not the least trace 
has ever been made out, that could lead to a dis¬ 
covery. 



129 


* J 


RICH MON IX 


to the present time, though uninteresting to the 
generality of readers, yet as they may serve in 
future to settle some point of Chronology in 
the History of the place, are here inserted. 



MAYORS. 


No. 

; 

1 William Wetwange . 
John Kaye . 

John Bartlett . « 

Richard Dawson . 

5 Henry Cowling 
Henry Bartlett 
John Bartlett, Junior 
William Cowart 
Henry Davile 
10 George Kaye 
Henry Smith 

■ 

Francis Allen . 
Thomas Cowling 
John Wilson . 

15 Peter Marshall 


S; 1 


Xif 


J ?. 


A. D. 

1668. 

1670. 


1675. 


1680. 





THE HISTORY OF 


No. 

William Kay 1 . 

John Metcalfe 
Simon Hutchinson 


Edward Wyvill 
20 Francis Blackburne 
John Smith 
John Nicholls 
Arthur Cowlinge 


James Close 
25 George Pinckney 
John Smith 
John Hammond 
William Cowlinge 
Christopher Alderson 
30 Thomas Dickonson 
Methusalem Snowdon 
Ralph Brockell 
Henry Nicholls 
Richard Sudell 
35 George Cowling 
George Allen 
Anthony Close 
Matthew Hutchinson 
Francis Blackburne 
40 James Close 
John Hammond 


> 1 :(\LU 


** rl 


S'. 




• < ■ 


i Hi 

'r- : 


ill tJiH 

•r 


A. D. 

1685. 

1690. 

* |f • 

1695. 

i 

1700. 

) i, 

' / 

’ » < 

1705. 


0 


RICHMOND, 

No. - 

William Cowling . 

Thomas Dickonson 
Methusalem Snowdon 
45 Richard Sudell . 

Henry Nicbolls « 

George Allen 
Anthony Close 
John Close . , 

50 William Davile • 

Thomas Metcalfe 
Ralph Brockell 
Henry Lanchester 
George Kay 
55 Caleb Readshaw 
James Close . 

Samuel Sutton 
£dward Hodgson 
Methusalem Snowdon 
60 William Darile 
Anthony Close 
James Close « 

Henry Lanchester 
George Kay 
65 James Close 
Samuel Sutton 
Edward Hodgson 
Henry Cowling 


131 

A. D. 

* 

. mo, 


. 1715. 


0 


* « 1720. 

* • !, 


• • 

. . 1725. 


■ i, 




. 1728. 
. 1728. 
0 

• 1730. 


132 THE HISTORY OF 


No. 

John Brockell 

70 John Els worth . 

Robert Wilson 
Thomas Brass 
Thomas Cowling * 

Joseph Coates 
75 Matthew Hutchinson 
Caleb Readshaw 
Edward Fisher * 

John Robinson . 

Henry Lanchester . 

60 John Brockell 

James Close . 

Henry Cowling 

John Els worth, Seuior i) 

Robert Wilson * 

85 Caleb Readshaw « 

Thomas Brass . 

Edward Fisher » 

John Robinson • 

t' , f ; • 

Cuthbert Readshaw 
90 Cuthbert Cowling . 

Thomas Simpson 
Christopher Wayne * 

Henry Lanchester 


A. D. 
1735. 


1740. 


1745. 

1745. 


* 1750 . 


. 1755* 



RICHMOND. 

133 

No. 

A. D. 

Christopher Dighton x , 

- 

95 William Brockell . 

. 1760. 

Edmund Lonsdale 


Fowler llickes . 


Thomas Cowling 

Solomon Wycliffe 


100 Thomas Cornforth . 

. 1765. 

Caleb Ileadshaw 

' t 

John Robinson 


Cuthbert Ileadshaw . 


Thomas Simpson » 


105 Henry Lanchester 

. 1770. 

Christopher Wayne 


William Brockell 


Edmund Lonsdale 


Fowler llickes • 


HO Solomon Wycliffe 

. 1775. 

Thomas Cornforth 


Caleb ileadshaw * 


Henry Trigg . 


Henry Bkgborough 


115 Thomas I’Anson , 

. 1780. 

Tristram Hogg 

• . 

Christopher Wayne 

• 

Edmund Lonsdale 


Fowler Hickes 



M 



134 THE HISTORY OF 


So. 

120 Solomon Wyclifie 
Thomas Cornforth 
John Robinson 
Henry Blegbo.ro ugh 
Tristram Hogg 
125 Francis Winn 

Thomas Simpson . 

William Thompson 
George Kay 
James Hutchinson 
330 George Thompson Watkin 
James Wensley 
Seymour Hodgson 
Philip Macfariane 
John Smurthwaitc 
135 Solomon Wycliffe 
Henry Blegborough 
Tristram Hogg 
Francis Winn 
William Thompson 
140 Thomas Simpson 
James Hutchinson 
George Kay 
Philip Macfariane 
John Smurtlmaite 
145 John Thompson 


A. 

. 1785. 


. 1790 


. 1795. 


.• 1800 . 


1805. 


1810. 


RICHMOND, 


No. 

John Foss 
William Close 
George Gill 

149 William Steaney Goodburne 


135 

A. D. 


. 1811. 




RECORDERS. 


James Metcalf • • 

Thomas Cradock 

John Middleton, Deputy Recorded 
John Middleton Recorder 
Henry Place 
Christopher Driffield 
John Rudd 
Thomas Rudd 

William Stables - * 

Ly oriel Place 
Charles Duhd&s 
William C hay tor 
George Wailes 


A. D. 
. 166 $ 

- 1676 

- 1688 

- 1689 

- 1702 

- 1707 

- 1723 

. 1728 

* 1748 

.v 1774 
. 1782 

. 1794 

- 1811 


M 2 


. * WA 



136 


THE HISTORY OE 


TOWN CLERKS 


James Close 



Anthony Close, Deputy Town Clerk - 1693 


James Close, Junior 


1702 


Thomas Thwaites, Deputy Town Clerk 1705- 


Ralph Close 
William Dixon 
Robert Wensley 
John Robinson 


1723 

1754- 

1761 

1774 


Kdwd. Macfarlane, Deputy Town Clerk 1811 


The Town is divided into three Wards, each 
hiving its own Constable : Bailey Ward com 
prises the Market-Place, which waa the outer¬ 
most area of the Castle and since buMt upon ; 
Frcnch-gate Ward; and Bargate Ward, which 
includes New biggin, the Green, and Bargate,, 



< RICHMOND. 137 

■which was a deep hollow road to the bridge. 
. and not paved till about the year 1750. 

This BOROUGH was anciently exempt from, 
sending Burgesses to Parliament, for by reason 
of the Charters granted by the Earls of Rich¬ 
mond and confirmed by the Kings of England, 
it had great privileges, and was excused from 
that grievance. But when that service, which 
was looked upon by our ancestors as a very 
great and expensive burden, began to be ac¬ 
counted one of the first and most 
A. D. honourable of employments, it sent its 
1685. Burgesses to Parliament the 27th of 
Elizabeth ; this has continued almost 
ever since, whenever a Parliament was assem¬ 
bled. There have been a few intermissions; this 
has arisen from the Burgesses not being always 
eminent for their rank or property, being 
chiefly merchants or tradesmen, who settled in 
the Town for the purpose of commerce, so. time 
there were not found upon every vacancy proper 
persons in the borough for the service of par¬ 
liament; the representatives being chosen at 
that time out of the Burgesses only and not 
from the country Gentlemen as is now the 
custom. And also the borough was often lime* 

51 .> 


138 THE HISTORY OS' 

unable te maintain its Members, and allow" 
them their wages and expences of Two Shillings* 
a day each, when they attended the House as their : 
Burgesses. In aftertimes a change took place in< 
men’s minds about this office; these difficulties and 
expences ceasedt Candidates starting up in every 
direction, who were ready not only to free 
them from any ex pence, but even to treat them 
for the honour. 

The right of electing these Members, and the 
description of persons entitled to vote seem not 
to have been settled at the first Parliament after 
Charles’s Charter ; for on the 13th of Febru¬ 
ary, 1678, it was agreed before the Election, 
Humphrey Wharton, Esq. of GiUiogwood, 
Thomas Cradock Recorder of Richmond* 
and Colonel Duke D’Arcy being Candidates, 


* In former times the custom of receiving wages was 
not considered as degrading or derogatory to the cha¬ 
racter of a Burgess of Parliament, it being thought vary 
just and reasonable that they, who put tluemselvess to. 
great trouble iu going from home to take care of ; ti>o 
rights and manage the affairs of a Borough, should re* 
caivc from it a recompence for this trouble. 

f See Appendix, No. 9. 




RICHMOND. 


130 


u That no Widow should vote, it being against 
u common right. That neither Minors or their 
44 Guardians could vote. That divided Bur- 
a gages caul d not be admitted to vote. That 
4 * Widows had power to assign their rights to 
44 other persons, whereupon Mr. Wharton had 
44 30 Assignments, who did there and there 
44 vote. That a Poll ought to be demanded by 
the persona to be elected before Twelve 
u o’Clock. And it was also agreed that do. 

’ 4 J \ • 

44 moiished Burgages could not vote.’* After 
this the Poll began, and ore closing it Mr. 
Crajjock. had 24& votes, Mr. Wbahtos 244, 
and Colonel D’Arcy 96. Immediately after, 
it was declared by the M ay or, 44 T hat by 
44 a precept directed to him from the High* 

44 Sheriff for the electing of two Parliament 

* * 

44 Burgesses, he did then hi pursuance oi that 
^ order declare Mr. Humphrey Wbartoai and 
u Mr. Thomas Cradock to be duly elected;.” 
aud ire order thereto did return are indenture to 
the She rilf sealed and signed by the May rev and 

i 

A ldermen, Sir Joseph. Cradock, Sir WiBkutt 
C hay tar, and other Free holders to the number 
of 1$ 

In consequence of these Resolutions, various 
contests arose in 1705 and 1713, when persons 


140 THE HISTORY OF 


claimed the privilege of voting, who were not 
entitled to it. This right of voting was never 
finally settled till the 14th of March 1727 by 
reason of a petition, that was presented to the 
House of Commons, signed by Sir Conyers 
D’Arcy, Knight and John Yorke, Esq. and 
also by Anthony Close, Henry Lanches. 
ter, Ralph Brockell, John Robinson and 
others, agarnst Charles Bathurst, Esq. and 
Sir Mahvaduke Wyville, Bart, the then 
sitting Members. The House came to this 
Resolution u That the right of voting is vested 
u in 9uch persons, as are owners of ancient 
“ Burgages in the said Borough, having a right 
u of pasture in a common field called Wittcliff 
4t Pasture.” The sitting Members being ac¬ 
quainted with this Resolution, informed the 
House, that they would give it no further 
trouble, being satisfied that they could not 
maintain a majority of votes. Upon which the 
Clerk of the Crown was desired to amend the^ 
return for the Borough of Richmond, by erasing 
the names of Charles Bathurst, Esq. and Sir 
Marmaduke Wyville, Bart, and then to insert 
the names of John Yorke, Esq. and the Men* 


RICHMOND. 


141 


Sir Conyers D’Arcy, Knight of the most ho- 
hourable order of the Bath instead thereof. 

From this time the Burgage tenures began to be. 
bought up and engrossed by two families, who by- 
means of sham conveyances which afterwards pre¬ 
vailed, either sat themselves for the Borough, or 
deputed whom they pleased ; thus an end was 
put to the contests, the fast of which was in 1727. 

.. - v. 

This Parliamentary interest was long divided 
between the Ycrke and the D’Arcy family of 
>edbur\ *, til! about the year 1760 Sir Conyers 
D’Arcy, having before purchased the Manor of, 
Aske, belonging to the last Duke of Whartont^ 
mad® a fortunate bargain in baying the Bur- 



* Redbury, in the time ofLeland, belonged to Sir 
llenry Gascoyne, and Iwvd a pretty Park and a little 
Lake in it. 


f Philip, Duke of Wharton was in the year 1729 
outlawed and attainted, of High-Treason, whereby all 
t he Estates lie was then seized of or intitled thereto, 
became forfeited and vested in the King (George tl.) 
subject to the several incumbrances thereon. The Duke 
died so, outlawed and attainted on the 31st. of May, 
1731. By Letters Patent passed under the great Seal 
dated the 24th of April, 1733, the King granted to per¬ 
tain Trustees power to sell the Manor of Aske then. 




143 


THE HISTORY OP 


gages also, the property of that family. From 
that time the Torke interest began to decline, 
and that of Aske has by degrees now gaiued 
such a superiority, that Candidates on this re¬ 
commendation are, although unknown to the 
inhabitants, immediately elected without any 
enquiries. A Candidate in opposition to this 
interest can have little chance of success, for 
though not absolutely having a majority of 
votes, yet with its own Burgages and the influ- 
ence which the letting of them and a residence 
near the place give it, it must always pre¬ 
vail, 

mortgaged, and all other Estates the Duke was seized 
of, and to pay off all incumbrances: the overplus to he 
given for the benefit of his Widow Maria Teresa, his 
Jan« Coke, and the heirs of his other Sister 
Lady Lucy Morrice. Among the many Estates dis¬ 
posed of, the Manor of Ilelauglt and the mines within 
the old inclosed lands iu Swaledale were sold to a Mr. 
Smith, which paid olf the incumbrances ; the other 
Estates in that part with the Miu«s upon the open 
grounds came to Lady Jane Coke, who left them to a 
Miss Draycott, whom she had brought up. This Lady 
married in 17U4 the late Lord Pomfret, who by that 
means got these Estates, which by the marriage set* 
ttement were to be divided ambwg all the children share 
and share alike. The Duchess, a Spanish Lady, had 
J'iOO 1. a year settled upon her for life. 






MORMON D. 


143 

Thr Manor of Aske and tji© Burgages in 
Richmond were sold some time since to the late 
Sir Laujusnck Dundas, Bart, whose descend- 
ants enjoy them at this day. Th# number of 
Burgage Tenures are about £7$, and the 
Mayor returning Oihcer. 

j 

2. • • , * V. 

Th* owners of these Burgages have great 
privileges in the Town, being exempt from 
stallage and toll of corn | in consequence of this 
great advantage, many of the principal com 
growers in the neighbourhood are become pro* 
prietors of the sites of these houses. 

Th* Inhabitants in general have many other 
great advantages ; they are clear from all 
County Rates, and from being summoned ai 
Jurymen to attend the Assizes at York and the 
Quarter Sessions, as appear# from an exempli¬ 
fication of a Judgement in the Exchequer made 
in the 7th year of Jamks I. to free the Inhabi¬ 
tants from fines for not appearing at the As¬ 
sizes. 

Th* Borough made use of various seals at 
different times, but the most ancient of them 
allyou have here engraved, Gules, an orle argent. 


144 ‘ THE HISTORY OF 


overall a Bend ermine, and round it this in. 
scription, which seems to have been added to 



it at the time of Charles’s grant* S. DNI. 
R. AD. COP. RECO. INFRA. BURG. 
RICHM* CONES. TEMP. WIL. WET- 
WANG. PRIM. MAJ. IB. There was a 
second : a Priest in a Gothic Pulpit holding 
with both hands before him a Crucifix ; on the 
dexter side, the Arms of England, aud on the 
sinister those of John, Earl of Richmond, and 
round it, SIGILLUM. COE. BURGENSIU. 
VILEE. HICHEMOND. There was also a 
third w hich did not come iuto use, till the Red 
and White Roses were united by Henry VII. 
formerly Earl of Richmond, on his marriage 
with Elizabeth, eldest daughter of Ebward 


















RICHMOND. 145 

IV.; round it is this Inscription “ SIGILLUM 
BUttGI KICHMOStDIAS.” 

To prove that the power of holding Fairs 
and a Market, and that the privilege of the 
Inhabitants to be judged by their own muni¬ 
cipal laws existed in this Town* there was for¬ 
merly a very handsome CROSS erected in the 
middle of the Market Place, to an antiquary 
the greatest beauty in the Town. Upon a high 
flight of steps was a large pillar of one stone, 
enclosed by a wall in the form of a square about 
6 feet high, enriched with many curious gothic 
oorapartinents. At the four corners were 
placed buttresses, and on the top of each was 
a dog sitting upon his hind legs made of stone. 
A door opened into the middle of the square, 
where the Market People used to assemble to 
sell their various wares. For particular rea¬ 
sons it was pulled down and the present column 
built on its site, on which is this Inscriptions 

Rebuilt 
A. D. 1771, 

Christopher Wayne, Esq. 

May or. 

Under this column is a large reservoir con. 

N 


]46 THE HISTORY OF 


taining about 12000 gallons of water, which 
supplies the Inhabitants, being cooveyed by 
pipes to various parts of the Town. It was 
formerly brought in brick and wood from a 
place called Aislabeck, distant above a mile, 
but now in lead pipes, lately laid down at an 
expence to the Corpoiation of 15001. There 
is another reservoir at the spring head containing 
about 3000 gallons, on which is this inscription: 

u Aislabeck Spring. This Reservoir was 
il erected, and lead pipes laid for conveying 
u water to the Town of Richmond, at the ex- 
u pence of the Corporation in the year 1812... 
u William Close, Esq. Mayor.” 

Near the old Cross was formerly another, 
which went by the name of Ba rley Cross, per 
haps so named from that sort of corn being sold 
there : it was a lofty Pillar of one large stone 
upon a small flight of steps with a cross at the 
top : rings were fastened to it, where criminals 
were punished by whipping : it is not long since 
it was taken down. Not far from this place 
was the Pillory. 



The MARKET-PLACE is very spacious, 
and lies in the upper part of the Town; it con- 


RICHMOND. 


147 


tains many well-built handsome houses, with 
shops equal to those in any Town in the King¬ 
dom, supplied with goods of every description, 
and of the best quality at moderate terms. 
There is also situated the OLD BANK of 
Stapleton, Kobinson, and Kay, a Bank 
conducted by Gentlemen of known propeity 
and respectable connexions. 

In the middle of the Town is placed the 
Chapel of the HOLY TRINITY, which for¬ 
merly belonged to St. Mary’s atYork, but is now 
in the patronage of the Corporation. 11 is built 
within the walls, and when the houses did not 
extend beyond them, must have been large 
enough for the Inhabitants. It was a long time 
in ruins, till by means of various benefactions 
and Queen Aim’s Bounty obtained at several 
times, lands were purchased in the Dales. 
Soon after it was repaired and fitted up in an 
elegant manner, and Divine Service is now 
performed every Sunday afternoon to a large 
congregation, many of whom are not able to 
attend the Low Church from the want of ac¬ 
commodation in pews. There is a neat font 
in it, but not being parochial, no children are 

N 2 


THE HISTORY OF 



christened.. At the bottom of the Chapel is 
this inscription on the wall ; 

Trinity Chapel, 

A. D. 1755. 

This Chapel of Trinity augmented, and 
A. D. 1760, land purchased with ,*£800. 
whereof given by 

Queen Ann’s Bounty, 1755 ... 200 

By Executors of William Straf¬ 
ford, b. L. D. 100 

By other Benefactions .......... 100 

Queen Ann’s Bounty, 1756 .... 200 

Ditto 1758 .... 200 

£. 800 


Perpetual Curates since the Repair of the 

CHAPEL: 

A. D. 

Uev John Stoupe, April 4 ............. 1755. 

William Dixon, January 1 % ..... 1769. ' 

Thomas Simpso*, October 17 ... 1775. 

Christopher Goodwill, June 10 . 1777. 


In the STEEPLE is the Town Clock, aud a 






Richmond. 


m 

large Bell* *, which at Bight o’clock in the even., 
ihg rings the'Gufc*tew, a custom that has con¬ 
tinued ever since the time of W met am ffifc 
Con^u^ror. He, among his other oppressivfe 
laws, ordered, that in every Town and Village 
all persons at the sound of the Bell should rake 
out or cover their fires, put out their lights and 
go to bed. At Six o’clock in the morning it 
rings again, when the fires may be re-lighted. 
Leland Says that there were formerly man) 
strange images in the walls, which made the 
people suppose that it was once a Temple of 
idols. The entrance to the Chapel is through 
a handsome Gothic Door, and the approach up 
a neat flight of steps. On the left of these 
steps in the North Aisle of the Chapel are two 
apartments, sulliciently large and commodious 
for the purpose, called the CO NS I STORY 
CO UKT where it has been held time out of mind. 
This is the Tribunal or place of Justice In all 
Ecclesiastical or Spiritual matters for the Arch¬ 
deaconry of Richmond. The power of the au- 
cieut Archdeacons before the Reformation was 

.—« ; . . - 

♦ On the Belt is this inscription. iC Qinne su;r*.*e 
** omen Jesus esi vener&biie tiom'ea. (Jti the lVa.a£ 

* Joseph Coates, »ydr....l7$:V’ 


N 


% 



THE HISTORY OF 


150 

S 4k 

▼ery great; 44 They+ had the Institutions of all 
44 the Churches in the Archdeaconry, and the 
44 care and custody of them, with the fruits and 
44 oblations arising from them, when vacant: 

“ they had all the Synodals, Procurations, and 
44 Profits entire, and Peter Pence}: without any 
44 diminution, rendering to the Chancellor at 
u York Twenty Shillings yearly at the Feast 
i 4 of St. Michael ; and if the Archbishop should 
44 visit the Archdeaconry, no Clerk within the 
44 Archdeaconry was bound to find him any en- 
44 tertainment; also the Clergy and Laity of 
44 the Archdeaconry were not bound to appear 
44 at the Pleas of the Archbishop, except the 
44 cause be brought before him by way of ap- 
44 peal, and that of their own accord.’* These 
liberties were obtained by the concession of 
Thurstan, Archbishop of York, in the year 
1127, w ith the will and consent of the Chapter, 

i » t . 

f Gale. 

£ Peter Pence was a tribute paid at a very early 
period to the Apostolic See. ' In the year 725, it was 
given by In a, Kihg 'of the West < Saxons, when on his 
Pilgrimage at Rome. Offa, King of the Mercians also 
gave it in 794 through all his dominions. Edward III. 
prohibited it, as did Henry YIII. by Statute. It was 
renewed by Philip and Mary,, but entirely abolished by 
ELIZABETH^ 



RICHMOND. 


151 


when Allerdale and Cumberland were taken 
from the Archdeaconry to erect the Bishoprick 
of Carlisle out of them. By this concession the 
Archdeacons had a Visitatorial, Judicial, and 
Pastoral power, in nothing infeiior to that of a 
suffragan Bishop at this day, except being re¬ 
strained from the acts of ordaining, consecra¬ 
ting and confirming, peculiar to the office of a 
Bishop. 

Accordingly we find, that the Archdea¬ 
cons of Richmond did actually exercise and 
enjoy all these powers and piivileges within 
their Archdeaconry, which after the separation 
of Ailerdale and Cumberland, consisted of the 
Eight Deaneries now belonging to it. 

Tins continued to the time of the Reforma¬ 
tion, when William Knight, L. L. D. resigned 
in 1541 the Archdeaconry of Ricbmond into 
the hands of the King. The Pastoral and Ju¬ 
dicial powers, together with the temporal Re¬ 
venue anciently vested in the Archdeacons, 
were dismembered from the See of York, and 
bestowed upon the newly-erected Bishoprick 
of Chester, but subject to these limitations and 
provisions. u That* the Archdeacon of Rich- 


* Gale. 




153 


THE HISTORY OP 


44 mond should still continue a Titular Digai- 
44 tary, with a yearly stipend of 50 l. paid out 
44 of the old Revenue, and have stilt a Stall in 
44 the Church of York. That if any of the ex- 
44 emptions and privileges before specified, 
44 should be inc#nsistent with the due subordi- 
44 nation of a Suffragan to his Metropolitan, 
44 then the Bishop of Chester may not claim a» 
v4 the proper Representative of the Archdeacon 
44 of Uichmond, but must conform himself to 
44 the nature of the Episcopal Office, and to the 
44 laws and usage of the Kingdom. The same 
<{ may be said of the exemptions of the inferior 
44 Clergy and Laity of the Archdeaconry from 
44 the power of the Archbishop in quality of 
44 their Diocesan. But as to the rest, the Ju. 
“ risdiction, not strictly Episcopal of the Arch. 
44 deacons in respect of Judicial Process, is to 
44 be wholly and entirely what it was under the 
44 ancient Archdeacons.” So much so, that if 
a Bishop of Chester should either by himself 
or his Deputy summon by Judicial Process any 
person living within the Archdeaconry of Rich¬ 
mond to appear at the Episcopal City of C hes» 
ter, the Defendant’s first Plea would be, an 
exception to the Jurisdiction of that Court, as 
not extending to him; and the Commissary of 



RICHMOND. 153 

I 

the Archdeaconry would certainly approve hr* 
conduct. 

/Ai *■ **i \ * * ) ■' * > .. i ■ * •’ - ' > ' ■ -•« 

The Commissary used to keep his Court 
only at Richmond, but for convenience, It was 
iu the year 1709 or 10 removed from its old 
situation to Kendal by leave of Bishop Dawes, 
and afterwards iu 1713 for more convenience to 
Lancaster, the residence of its then Commis* 
sary, but without the Records, which were 
still kept at'Richmond, except some Wilier and 
Ad mini strati one. About the year 1743 the 
Corporation of Richmond, assisted by the able 
pen of their learned Rector Francis Black - 
burne, petitioned the Bishop of Chester, claim¬ 
ing, u That as the Town of Richmond was the 
u Capital of the Archdeaconry, it was the 
u proper place for the residence of its Officers, 
C£ the holding of its Courts, and the keeping of 
46 its Records'* After much litigation with 
Dr. Stratford the Commissary, it was brought 
back in 1750 from Lancaster by order of Dr. 
Peploe Bishop of Chester, and the whole of the 
Record* replaced iu the present Registry. Bui 
since that year, a division of these has takers 
place, and the Wills, and other Paper* and 
Records, not relating to ^sutfh busineis a* >t» 


154 


THE HISTORY OP 


usually called Contentions, arising within the 
five Deaneries of Amounderness, Kendal, Cope¬ 
land, Lonsdale, and Furness, part of the said 
Archdeaconry, have been deposited in the 
Parish Church of Lancaster, under the custody 
of another Officer there; and Duplicates of 
Parish Registers, Terriers, and all other Re¬ 
cords, Proceedings and Papers (except those 
of a contentious nature, and the Wills, &c. of 

t 

the period first before mentioned) of the said 
live Deaneries, are also deposited in the same 
place, whilst all other Wills, Papers, and Re¬ 
cords, arising within the said Archdeaconry, 
have continued to be deposited and remain in 
the Registry of the said Consistory Court at 
Richmond. 

■ 'll 't ■ v. , *. n\ , c\ 16 >’ ? - 

These Records, ascertaining in many im¬ 
portant cases the property of the Inhabitants of 
an extensive and populous country, are kept 
in trust for them by a proper Officer the Re¬ 
gistrar. This Court has the institutions of 
Churches within the Archdeaconry, and the 
care and custody of them as long as they shall 
be vacant; has the power of proving Wills, 
granting Marriage Licences, Letters of Ad¬ 
ministration, and all other matters relating to 


RICHMOND. 


155 


Ecclesiastical causes. From this Court there 
lies an Appeal to the Archbishop of the Pro¬ 
vince. . . ; 

• j i 

1 * . ’ * .*• ♦ X < f> 

?,1 >1 J i ) f i . .< - ■ ^ j y . t 

The TOWN-HALL is a very handsome 
and convenient structure, rebuilt about 58 
years ago, at an expence to the Corpo¬ 
ration of 6001. ; it contains a very large and 
elegant room in which Balls and Assem¬ 
blies are held ; this room is 70 feet long and 
24 wide, ornamented by four handsome Glass 
Chandeliers of extraordinary sii&e and lustre, 
which when lighted up, make a very brilliant 
appearance. On the south side of it is the 
Court, where the Corporation and County 
Sessions are held, the Members of Parliament 
chosen, and other business transacted belonging 
to the Town ; at the end through folding doors 
you enter a neat square Card-Room, where 
there is another Glass Chandelier ; and at the 
East end of the building is a spacious Supper- 
Room, which has also a Glass Chandelier. 

« i 

A little lower down the Street is the 
NEW BANK of Messrs. Hutton, Wood, 
and Co. where every accommodation is met 
with in a very liberal and polite manner. They 


156 


THE HISTORY OF 


are the Deputy Receivers of Taxes for the 
North-Riding, which eauae6 a great deal of 
business to be done there, and makes their 
Banking concerns very extensive. Near this 
in former days the May-Pole was placed. 

PuksimJpg our walk through the Street, 
where French-gate Bar not long since stood, 
we cdme to the LOW CHURCH situated 
on the declivity of tire hill. When the Town 
encreased in population, so that the build, 
ings stretched beyond the walls into va¬ 
rious Streets, Trinity Chapel wa9 found too 
small to contain the Inhabitants attending Dm* 
vine Service. The cemetery being placed with¬ 
out the walls, according to the laws and custom 
of the time, a new Church was placed in the 
middle of it. These places were looked upon by 
the ancient Christians as the properest for this 
purpose, on account of the Martyrs and reli¬ 
gious persons buried there ; and as it was the 
custom of the Church of Rome, which still 
prevails, never to consecrate an altar without 
putting under it the relics of some saint, to these 
circumstances we owe the erection of a Church 
in this fine situation* 


RICHMOND. 


157 


This Church was dedicated to St. Marx, 
but the particular time of its foundation caunot 
now be traced out, probably it may be referred 
to the reign of Henry III. when most of our 
Parish Churches were erected. It consists of 
a Nave, Chancel, and two side Aisles ; the two 
former divided by a large pointed Arch, un- 
der which was the rood-loft highly ornament¬ 
ed; and if we judge from the Arms engraven upon 
the walls in different places, we may suppose 
it to have been enlarged at various times by 
the Earls of Richmond and the many eminent 
men, who had employments about the Castle. 
They seem to have followed no regular plan of 
Architecture, as very few of the windows or 
pillars are alike. Some of the windows spring 
from brackets of grotesque imagination repre¬ 
senting heads of men with lodicrous distorted 
features, and others have family arms without 
any ornament. Many of the Pillars are Saxon, 
heavy and clumsey with the arches gothic, 
which shew as if the Saxon and Gothic fashions 
were at that time striving for the victory. The 
Saxon style of building prevailed at a very early 
period all over Europe, and was used by the 
Normans after their arrival in England before 
the introduction of the Gothic, which was not 

O 


]58 THE HISTORY OF 


till about the end of the reign of Henry II- 
Hence we mayconclude, tha t this Church was hot 
coeval with the foundation of the Town, as both 
these styles are used at the same time. Plain¬ 
ness and solidity constitute the striking feature, 
and in every addition this has always pre c 
vailed. A parapet wall runs round the? top, 
so that anyone may with the'greatest safety 
walk upon the roof, which isf ; covered with' 
lead. 

All the windows were formerly of Curiously 

r * • 

painted Glass representing some patts of Scrip¬ 
ture ; but at the Reforihation, when that kind 
of Church ornament was iooked upon as super¬ 
stitious, it fell to decay, and the different re- 
pairs made with common Glass have almost 
obliterated it. Yet there are still to be seen on 
the North side some little fragments of what 
they were, heads, arms, and legs of Saints with 
parts of inscriptions now remain, jumbled to¬ 
gether in a confused manner by some ignorant 
glazier. The Arms of Peter de M auclerc 
and those of Richard Earl of Cornwall 1 made 
Earl of Richmond by HexVry III. are yet in a 
perfect state ; from this we may conclude, that 
hey built or enlarged the North Aisle. The 


RICHMOND. 159 

Chancel seems to have been erected by various 

persons, as Arms of different families appear 

not only on the window, but on the wainscot, 

which covers the Communion Table. At the 

■« 

top of the .North side of this Gothic window 

are finely painted the Arms of John, Fail < f 

* 

Richmond, who took the shield of Dheix, 
chequered or and azure, with the ermine of 
Bretagne in a canton, surrounded by a scarlet 
belt studded with Lions, which the Kail tool* 
out of grateful remembrance for the favours re- 
ceived from England. Those on the South 
side are the Arms of Fountains Abbey, azure, 
three horse shoes or, two and one; and at the 
centre of the bottom, the Arm# of England, 

This tine window is a gteat ornament to the 
Church, and throws a large body of light up the 
Chancel and Nave ; it is divided by four stone 
Mu I lions, running into ramifications above, and 
forming numerous compartments in various ele¬ 
gant shapes. Other arms were placed in the 
windows, which through neglect and ignorance 
of workmen, not knowing their value, have 
been lost. On the outside of the East window 
of the South Aisle are engraven the Arms of 
Fjtz-Hugh and Brian Fjtz-Alan, men of 


O 2 


160 


THE HISTORY OF 


great note in former days, and who had em* 
ployibend under the Earls. 

Before quitting this part of the Church it 
is to he remarked, that the East end of the 
Chancel is very much out of the perpendicular, 
and that many chasms appear particularly in 
the South wail, which threaten destruction to 
its fine window. This may have arisen from the 
foundations giving way through the gradual 
sinking of the ground in Hagston Close to the 
river. 

At the West end is the Steeple a large and 
lofty piece of Architecture, of a quadrangular 
form, and having for its greater support four 
buttresses, one at each angle. When Churches 
were first erected, these Towers were scarcely 
higher than the roof, being intended chiefly as 
a-kind of Lantern for the admission of light, 
which was conveyed through a large handsome 
window similar to that at the East end, as in 
the present instance ; hut when hells began to 
be mere generally adopted iu Churches, after 
the manner of Monasteries, then higher Stee¬ 
ples were necessary. This seems to have been 
raised to its present height by Neville Earl 


RICHMOND. 


161 


of Westmorland, when he received the 
Honour of Richmond, as his arms, gules, a saltier 
argent, are placed in a very conspicuous 
manner at the top of it, in the middle of the 
centre battlement to the West, and still in fine 
preservation. The difference in the building 
and the variety of the 6tone shew it not to have 
been all the work of the same time, and indeed 
the whole appearance of the Masonry confirms 
this supposition. 

There is a handsome old Font of grey 
marble, cut in the form of an octagon, sup¬ 
ported by a pillar on a pedestal of the same 
shape ; each of the sides represents a shield, 
and plain, except on the front one is marked in 
old English characters with a stroke of abbrevi¬ 
ation over it III I, and on the back one I BE ; 
the B has a curious hieroglyphical mark at 
its top. The date of these Monograms, as far 
as may be conjectured from the character, seems 
to be about the year 1400 or 1450 ; they are 
abbreviations for the genitives JIIES1 (the old 
way of spelling) and JOIIANNIS BAP¬ 
TISTS; the word Font being understood, 
they may be Englished “ The Font of JESUS 
and JOHN the BAPTIST.” 

O 3 


162 


THE HISTORY OF 


Tins Church was formerly famous for one 
inferior and one high Altar, and also for 
the Chantry of St. Ann and St. Catha¬ 
rine, founded by Richard Stenall, who 
granted lands to the value of 6 L a year for the 
finding a Chaplain to celebrate Divine Service 
for his soul and that of his Wife. These chan¬ 
tries had endowments of lands and other Re¬ 
venues, for the maintenance of one or more 
Priests to say Mass daily for the souls of th® 
founder and his relations, on a supposition of 
their being released from purgatory by these 
means : sometimes they were celebrated at a 
particular Altar, and oftentimes in little 
Chapels added to Churches. The small Chapel 
used for this purpose formerly projected into 
the Church yard from the middle of tjie South, 
Aisle, and after the dissolution of chantries*, 
was long appropriated as a place for containing 
Papers and for transacting Parish business in; it 
has some years since been removed, and almost 
every appearance of it obliterated : the piscina 
at the entrance still remains, though hid by ^ 
pew. 

The Stalls of the Mayor and Aldermrn 
are worthy of observation ; the canopy o ver 


RICHMOND. 163 

them is composed of rich, open, Gothic fret¬ 
work, with a filleting running along it in a 
zig-zag form, on which are some latin words 

# t 

in old English characters with different marks 
of abbreviation. As many parts of it are 
wanting, and the rest so misplaced by ignorant 
workmen without attending to the sense and 
even turning some of them upside dowu, a 
whole sentence cannot be made out. Over the 
South Stall are these abbreviated words, which 
may be read thus at full length, shewing where 
the breaks are; NEGUGENS DiSClPU- 
LUS 1 NOBEDiENS OCIOSUS SEN EX 
OBSTINATES MONAGHUo CURA ALLS 
RELIGIOSUS-..PRECIOSUS CIBUS EX- 
QUISITUS RUMOR. AN CLAUS ViiO LIS. 
INQAPlTULODISSOLUCIOiN CHORD. 
Over the Mayor’s stall is a shield with the Ab^ 
bot’s name upon it in a curious device; a 
crosier is fixed upright in the bunghole of a barrel 
and passes quite through it; on the barrel are 
the letters B A with a. stroke of abbreviation 
over the A, and on: a ribbon tied in a knot, 
round the staff is AB-BOT, which may be thus 
read A BBO T BA M TUN. Be hi nd the Com¬ 
missary’s Pew, I STUD PRESENS OPUS 
ANNO DOM IN I .--PR ES EN V EM LAU- 


164 THE HISTORY OF 


DARE ET ARSENTIS FAMAM LjE. 
DERE MINIME DECET—On the North 
stall, CONSOEACIO MEMBRIS EX CA- 
PITE. CUM EXEMPLUM BONUM VI- 
VENDO.-.STATU DOMINI ABBlS IIU. 
JUS—DEC EM SUNT ABUSION ES CLAM 
TRAnsiLIUM VliE--CAUSIDICUS HA- 
BlTUS.-.with several more pieces of words. 
On turning up the seats, .there are seen richly 
carved representations of animals, heads, and 
foliage. The Commissary’s Pew is also covered 
with the same hind of work. All these were 
brought from Eascby Abbey at the Reforma, 
tion, and are made of the heart of Oak* 

The appearance of the interior of the Church 
is now much better than it used to be, since 
the old Pews have been altered to a more re¬ 
gular form. Formerly many of them were 
open Stalls, where any one might sit; but 
since they have become private property, the 
best part of the Church is frequently locked 
up during the time of Divine Service, to the 
great grievance of the Poor and many respect¬ 
able inhabitants, who are in some measure en¬ 
tirely banished from it. To this cause and to 
several of theTews being engrossed by Persons, 


RICHMOND. 165 

who make a traffic of the House of God, we 
may in a great degree attribute the astonishing 
increase of Methodists and other Sectaries, who 
afford to strangers every accommodation in 
their places of Worship. There are two gal¬ 
leries, one at the West end of the Nave, the 
other over the South Aisle, belonging to the 
inhabitants; there are also two private ones 
the property of the Yorke and Aske families ; 
the former is remarkable for the excellence of 
its Workmanship and the beanty of the wood, 
built by the Uncle of the late John Yorke. 

Hot the noblest ornament to the Church is 
the ORGAN, which for mellowness and bril¬ 
liancy of tone, and for harmony in all its parts, 
is undoubtedly one of the first in the North. 
It was built by Mr. England of Stephen- 
street, London, and opened on June 30, 1S11, 
The style is Gothic, in three compartments, 
and is a most beautiful piece of architecture. 

11 consists of the usual number of stops with 
all the modern improvements, accompanied by 
a swell, which has the most pleasing effect. 
The size and appearance are properly adapted 
to the Church, where this superb structure will, 
it is hoped, long remain to posterity a pleasing 


166 


THE HISTORY OF 


Monument of the pious liberality of their fore¬ 
fathers. The expence attending the purchase 
of it and some Pews, together with the erecting 
the platform and pillars below, and other inci¬ 
dental charges, amounted tq near 6001. which 
was raised by voluntary contribution of the In¬ 
habitants, very ready to meet and second the 
exertions of a few individuals, who conducted 
the business. The erection of this Organ has 
entirely shut out from the body of the Church 
the view of the spacious West window. The 
length of the Church is 126 feet, and breadth 
63 ; the length of the Aisles 105 feet and 

breadth 18. There is a tunable ring of six 

* P 

- ~-re -.i(one, and are 

neiis, viuiku »wt V » H'tit v. .1, 

very musical, particularly by the side of the 
river, on the walk towards Easeby Abbey. On 
the Bells are the following inscriptions j 

1. 1739, ....“ The Right Honourable Sir 
Conyers D’ Arcy, Knight of the Bath, Member 
of Parliament for Kichmond, Lieutenant of the 
North-Riding of Yorkshire, Comptroller of his 
Majesty’s Household, and one of his Privy 
Council”...The D’Arcy’s Arms, azure, a semee 
of cross crosslets and three cinquefoils argent. 

2. 1697... u Venite exultemus domino...S. $. 

Ebor. ” 


HICHMONB. 167 

3. 1697..Novum cantate Domino canti- 
oum. .S. S. Ebor.” 

■ i I I'Jt ‘ . i . 1 '• . Ji w 1 4 ! tii, •» 

4. u Unus Deus sed Trinitas” in black 
letter ; a very old Bell and said to be brought 
from Easeby Abbey. 

5. 1697... “ Gloria in excelsis Deo.. .S. S. 
Ebor.*’ 

6. 1697...“ Ante jacetis humo sonitn resi. 
piscite mccsto. S. S.Ebor.” On the wooden frame 
is carved, “Francis Blackburne, Rector. 
Matthew Huthchinson, Ralph Close, 
Edmund Robinson, and Robert Bridge- 
water, Churchwardens, 1739. James Har¬ 
rison, of Barton, in Lincolnshire, Bellhanger.” 

• ' * 1 . 

The ornaments of the Communion Table 

consist of many handsome pieces of Plate, the 
gifts of various Inhabitants ; two large Silver 
Flaggous, two Chalices with silver covers, 
Patens, and Dishes proper for their particular 
uses. On the North side of it is a pleasant 

convenient Vestry, where the Parish business is 

* 

transacted. 

t S& i / i * 1* * A * Ti ? 41» / f 

7 J /, "X Utllj lllil * U v £i: t i') i i i l f J (j b C ( uQ 

There are but few Monuments in the 

Church, and these of modern construction, 


168 


THE HISTORY OF 

f 


plain and simple, with the exception of an old 
one belonging to the Hutton family of Marske, 
w hich is remarkable for its antiquated form, the 
play upon the words in the inscription, and for 
having several figures of the family in a kneeling 
posture over their arms, with other emblematical 
representations of Fame, Charity, Religion, and 
Piety. This Monument is placed in the south 
wall near the Communion Table, over the seat 
where the officiating Priest sat at intervals during 
the solemnity of High Mass. The inscription 
upon it may be thus read ; 

Dom. Timothkus Hutton, Eques Aura, 
tus, Filius Reverexdiss. in Xto Patris 
Matthasi Archiepi. Eborum (praesulis ob acre 
judicium et morum gravitatem, inridendo hoc 

f 

elogio decorati, quod dignus esset, ut praesideret 
consilio oecumenico) hie deposuit exuvias suae 
mortal itatis. 

Quoad pietatem et rcligionem uno verbo 
patrissabat; 

Quoad adeo enituitin blando 

vultu veneranda majestas, ut vere dicores eum 
ad imaginem conditoris condituru ; 

Quoad opes, fuerunt illae non rapta?, immo 
non partae, sed relictw ; 

Quoad prole-m, felicissimus fuit lamircXurUvisc 

* r . 1 

quam sufixyid'} 


RICHMOND. 


169 


Quoad vitam, beavit eum prae caeteris trias 
ista, hilaris animus, facundum os, mensa hos- 
pitalis ; 

Denique quoad mortem, tvticcvoLvicc decubuit 
hie servus Xti eo ipso die, quo dominus resur- 
rexerat, 

Anno ultimo patientiae sanctorum 1629. 

Timotiieus Huttonus 

Tia^ 0£oy ov rovof. 

Non nuda vox sonus volitans ve per aethera 
inanis, 

Sod res est rerum, prosequi honore Deum. 

Memorise Sacrum D. Elizabeths Hut- 

ion, QUS HABUIT PATREM PeRILLUSTREM 
Vi rum D. Georgium Bowes do Streatlani 
Militis, matrem autem Jan am Talbot Pre- 
nobili prosapia, et nunc temporis Comiti 
Salopis amitam ; maritum obtinuit genero^um 
equitem Dom. Timotheum Hutton de Marske, 
Richmondiae AJdermannum, Reverendissimi pa- 
tris Di. Matthsi Arciiiepiscopi Kboiium 
tilium priorem natu, per quern reliquit post se 
speciosam sane prolem. 

Ne vivam, lector, si unquam videris feemi- 
nam vel religione erga Deum, vel observantia 
in maritum, vel indulgentia in liberos magis 
flagrantem. 


P 


170 THE HISTORY OF 


Placidissime in Domino obdorraivit pridie 
dominie® palmarum, anno salutis sua 1625. 
Anima hujus Eliz® raox abiit ad Elisium. 
Theca anim® hie tifra secundum Xti ad- 
ventum expectat. 

Ccelestem posuit Deus atris nubibus arcum, 
Gen. 9 3. 

Et sic non ir® nuncius Iris erat *> 

Sic dedit ille arcum mihi, fidum pectus Eliza, 
Tempora si fuerint nubila nostra malis. 
Estque pharetra mihi, calami quoque sunt mihi, 
me nam... Psalm 127. 

Quinque vocant pueri, & trina puella patrem. 
Frangitur, heu, arcus, remanent tamen octo 
sagitt®, 

Qu® cor transfigunt patrio araore meum ; 
lias, Deus alme, bea, precor (illam namque 
beasti) 

Sic coelum jungat nos societque simul. 

Sic defunctam charara suam uxorem deflevit 
Timo. Hutton. 

1. MATTHiEUS. 

As careful Mothers do to sleeping lay 
Their Babes, that would too long the wanton play. 
So to prevent my youth’s approaching crimes, 

Nature my Nurse had me to bed betimes. 


Nutricis me® felici incuria 


RICHMOND. 


171 


Citius locor ccelesti in curia, 

Iiinc nulla mihi facta est iojuiia. 

2. JANA. 

Vix tibi, Jana, duos concessum est cernere 
Janos, 

Jam vitae cceli janua jamque patet. 

This I have gain'd, by being no longer liv’d, 

Scarce sooner set to sea, than safe arriv’d. 

. * 

3. ELEANORA. 

. * , 

I liv’d, I^dy’d, yet one could hardly know, 

I dy'd so soon, whether I liv’d or no j 

O what a happy thing it is to lie 

1’ th’ Nurse’s arms a week or two and die. 

4. BEATRIX. " : 

. i **;. .. ... f ' rx ‘ *•' 

Felici nimium tu prole beata Beajtrix, 

Tam pia tu conjux, quam pia mater eras. 
Vitam habuit in patientia, 

Mortem in desiderio. 

5. M ATTHiEUS. 

Nummorum magis autnummorum tu patrisbaeres 
Clarus tu natus magis, an pater inclytus ille ? 
Inclytus ille pater, praeclarus tu quoque natus, 
Pacis amans, et justiciarius aaquus uterque, 
Charus et ille suis, charus et ipse tuis. 

6. FRANCISCA. 

Pignus amoris habes divini, pignora multa, 

Pignora chara tibi, tu magi cbara deo. 

P 2 


172 


THE HISTORY OK 


Pes in terris, 

Spes in ccelis. 

7. TIMOTHEUS. 

Hoc unum (non muItapeto)da, Christe, rogauti. 
Hoc unum mihi da, Christe, placere tibi, 
Honorantes me honorabo.... 1 Sam 2,30. 

8. PHIUPPUS. 

Yixi dum volui, volui dum, Christe, volebas, 
Sic nec vita mihi, mors nec acerba fult. 

’Efxolro tfv xa) ro airo&avs**xspod';. t 

Phil. 1. 21. 

9. JOHANNES. 

Sicutavo (praesul fuit hie memorandus Eborum) 
Sint et odor vitae biblia sacra mihi. 

Praeco, non proedo, 

* i .i * 

Dispensator, non dissipator. 

1 Cor. 9. 16. 17. 

10. ELIZA BETH A. 

I strive to tread the steps my Parents trod, 

This is my aim, humbly to walk with God. 

Mich. 6. $. 

11. THOMAS. 

Da mihi, Christe, fidem, (bona singula sunt tua 
dona) 

Hanc auge pariter tu mihi, Christe, datam # 
Porainus meus 

Et Dems meus. ..Joh. 20. 28, 


RICHMOND, 


173 


12. ANNA. 

• • 1 

Iuto this world, as Strangers to an Inn, 

This Infant came guest-wise, where when’t had been, 
And found no entertainment worth her stay, 

She only broke her fast, and went away. 

Pietas M ATth^i Hutton A rmigeri primique 
familias monumentum hoc posuit, non iu vanam 
gloriam, sed in piam memoriam beaforum pa- 
fentum prolisque eorum, Anno xpurroyovixc, 
1639. 

In the Parish Register is this honourable 
Memorandum of Sir Timothy. u Dominus 
“ Tiraotheus Hutton Miles, cujusque boni 
u amicus, et patronus fidelium domini Jesti 
u Christi ministrorum canditirwimus et benig- 
“ nissimus, quoad corpus humatus fuit sexto 
<l die Apriiis, 1629.” 

There are two other remarkable entries in 
the Register: the bne is “Richard Snell 
46 brut, i. e. burned September 9, 1558.” 

supposed in Newbiggin. Concerning this 
matter, Mr. John Fox the Martyrologist 
writes thus u There were two of the Snells 
“ taken up for their Religion. One, after 
“ his toes were rotted off by lying in Prison, by 

P 3 


174 


THE HISTORY OF 


order of Dakins the Bishop of Chester’s Com- 
tc missary, went upon Cratches ; at last went 
Ci to Mass,, having a certain sum of money givea 
<c him by the people : But in three or four days 
u after, drowned himself in a river called SwAili 
“ by Richmond. The other Snell was burned.” 
N. B„. This Dakins or Daykins was the founder 
of the school and Hospital at Kirkby-hill, and 
had been concerned as Commissioner in the time 
of Henry VIII. to take an account of the Re«* 
ligiousllousesin Richmondshire. Theotberen- 
try is, “buried of the Plague 1060, which began 
“ August 17, 1597, and ended December 15* 
44 1598.” 

i i i 4* *"*> 4 R * 

On another elegant Monument of Black 
Marble with gilt Letters, opposite to that of the 
Hutton’s, 

DEPOS1TUM 

THOM JE BROOKE, A. M. 

HU JUS ECCLESI & PER ANNOS 33 
RECTOR IS, 

TIRI 

ERG A DEUM 
PSI, 

ERGA HOMINES 
PROB1 ET BENEVOLI, 


RICHMOND. 


175 


!N omnibus dbnique vrt m muni is- o* eundis 

IMTEGrERRIMf. 

UXOREM DUX IT MARIAM 

TIIOMyE COMBER, S. T. P. 

DECANI DUNELMENSIS FILIAM, 

BX QUA SUSCEPIT 

“ UtMjIULM'UM, MARI AW, ALICIAM, 

A Nit AM RT THOM AM. 

9UPEUSTITE9 RELIQUIT 
GULIELMUM ET ANNAM. 

ALTER!TRES 

^UXTA PATREM OBDORMIUNV. 

OB. APRIL 28 A. D. 1739, 

ABtAT 70. 

v * ' J K 

Near this Monument under the Arch is «n 
oval one of Marble to the Memory of our late 
much respected Rector, whose character is 
fully comprised in these few words : 

BENEATH THIS MARBLE 
SLEEPS FRANCIS BLACKBURNE, A. M. 
ARCHDEACON of CLEVELAND 
AND RECTOR of RICHMOND. 

A RATIONAL AND PIOUS CHRISTIAN, 
JUST, HUMANE, and BENEVOLENT, 

OF UNBLEMISHED PURITY of LIFE, 

OF SIMPLE DIGNITY of MANNERS, . 
A FAITHFUL PASTOR, 

A PERSUASIVE PREACHER, 


176 THE HISTORY OP 


AN ACUTE, ENERGETIC, CAUSTIC, WRITER ; 
A FOE to tub SUPERSTITION of ROME, 
AND EACH EXORBITANT CLAIM of 
CHURCH AUTHORITY; 

A FRIEND to CIVIL LIBERTY, 

AND the EQUAL RIGHTS of MEN 
IN EVERY COUNTRY. 

HE WAS BORN on the 10th DAY of JUNE 170^ 

HE DIED on the 7th DAY of AUGUST, 1787. 

• » 

At the bottom of the South Aisle on the 

* 

ground is this Inscription on brass. 

HERE LIETH the BODY of CHRIS¬ 
TOPHER PEPPER,* ESQ. WHO DE- 
PARTED THIS LIFE the 28th DAY of 
MARCH, A. D. 1635. 

/r#o thy Hands I commend my Spirit , for thou hast 
redeemed me, 0 Lord, thou God of Truth. 

Near it on a handsome Marble Monument 
against the South wall 

Hicjuxta sepelitur 
JOHANNES METCALF\ ARMr . 
Thomce hi{jus burgi 0 lim Alder manni 

* The Peppers of St. Martin’s afterwards removed 
to Pepper-IIall, near Cowton in this County. They 
had also an estate at Farnton-Hall in the Parish of 



RICHMOND. 


177 


Filius , 

Q, ui , tnunus arduum cegrotos curandi t 
Eruditione , judicio , adeoque profcctu 
Non mediocribuSy 
Atiimo omnibus benigno , 

Pauper ioribus bcnignissimo , 

Ctm per annos plusquam viginti 
In hac villa Jideliter exeoluisset , 
Immature nimis , new improvise decessit 
Julii die 4to. A. D. MDCCLX. 
JEtatis succ 46to. 

Suscepit qualuor liber os 
VaoHAM et Johannem, hue usque superstites , 
Fleanorem et Ositham , dudum defunctas y 
Ex ELEANOR A ED MUNDI BROWNE 
De MA R TON in hoe comitatu generosi 

Filia , 

Qwce tabulam hanc 

* 

Memories desideratissimi conjugis dicatam 
Poni curavit . 


Bishop-Wearmouth, County of Durham. Sarah daugh¬ 
ter of Cuthbert Pepper of Moulton, Esq. by Sarah, one 
•f the co-heiresses of Arthur Prescott of Blackwell, nea r 
Darlington, married John Arden of Stockport, Cheshire* 
from whom the present very respectable family of Arden 
and the late Lord Alvanley* are descended. 



178 THE HISTORY OF 


Against the North wall of the Nave ha* 
been lately erected a handsome Monument of 
Marble, on which is engraven, 

In Memoriam 

FOWLER HICKES, ARMIGERI, 

Viri probi fideique servantissimi, 
Omnibus quibuscura familiaritas intercesserat 

Chari, 

A caeteris ob merrta observati, 

\ ■ * • 

Summum hujus municipii magistratum ter gessit, 
Omnibusque ejusdem officiis cum laude 
functus est, 
obiit Martii 12, 1791, 

Annos natiis 62. 

Utorem duxit JANAM TOPPING, 

Ex qua suscepit liberos quinqUe, 
Unicum filium superstitem reliquit, 

Qui pietatis suae esse putavit 
Hoc Munimentura meritissimis parentibus 
Curare ponendum. 

Uxor secata est maritnm 
Die Junii 24, 17*$, 

Cum rixisset annos 60, 

Suis charissima. 

Opposite to this on the south wall is a c ir«. 
cular Marble Monument, 



RICHMONB. 


179 


IN MEMORY 
OF FRANCIS WINN, ESQ. 
WHOLIES BURIED NEAR THIS PLACE 
HE DIED FEBRUARY 16, 1809, 

IN THE67th YEAR OF HIS AGE. 


On a blue Marble Slab in the middle of the 
Chancel is an old Inscription, but so defaced 
that many of the Letters from frequent wear 
and tread are obliterated, those which remain, 
may be read thus: 

HIC JACET CORPUS DOMINI JOSE. 
PHI CRADOCK* * , EQUITIS AURATl LE. 
GUMQUE DOCTORIS, COMMISSARII 
ARCHDIACONATUS RICHMONDIA2 44 
ANNOS, FILII JOSEPHI CRADOCK*** 
PROFESSORJS ****CANCELL****OBIIT 
SEXTO DIE APRILIS 1686 iETATIS SUiE 
81***SUBTER PARTEM AUSTRALEM** 
JACET CORPUS DOMINiE*****UXO- 
RIS****CRADOCK, FIDELISSIMyE ET 
DILECTISSIMyE*********OCTODECIMO 
DIE DECEMBRIS 1676. 

Near it on a Brass Plate has been an in¬ 
scription in Black Letter, full of abbreviations, 


* Cradock-Hall the habitation of this family was situ¬ 

ated in Frenchgate nearly opposite th« High Church 




180 THE HISTORY OF 


what remains of it may thus be read at full 
length. 

ORATE PRO ANIMA THOM^^^QUONDAM 
JSTIUS BUR****QUI OBIIT XXVII DIE APRILIS 
ANNO DOMINI MCCCCCVI CUJtfS ANIMAL rROPI- 
CIETUR DEUS. AMEN. 

On an old Flag over the North Aldermen’s 
Stall are these Armg, {Bethel! and Robinson) 
purpure* *, a cheveron between three Boar's 
Heads, couped, sable, tusked argent; impaling, 
vert, on a cheveron between three Bucks trip- 
pant, or, as many cinquefoils, gules. 

5 ,- • i 

Tn the Church-yard are few Tombstones 
that deserve mentioning, except two Mar¬ 
ble ones on the south side ; on the one is 
engraven 

Humili sub hoc tumulo 

* " 1 " * - - n mm . mm 

Wjnd; it was pulled down some years since, and the 
present four neat Teneaieuts belonging to Lord Dundas 
erected on its site. 

* This part is so faded, that it is difficult to distinguish 
the colour. The field of the present Bethell’s arms is I 
believe argent. The arms are blazoned on both sides of 
the Flag; on the one side it appears as if Belhell im¬ 
paled Robinson, and on the ether side it is the reverse. 




RICHMOND 


181 


Requiescunt cineres 
ROBERT! CLOSE, A. M. 

Collegii Divi Johannis 
A pud Cautabrigienses 
Quondam Socii; 

Deinde per annos 28 liberae Schola; 
Grammatical hujus Burgi 
Archididascali. 

Qualis erat! 

Qualiterque doctrina, ingenio, vera pietate 
Et ingenua morura suavitate 
Spectabilis ! 

Testentur alumni, 

Testentur omnes sibi noti, 

Sua hie vetat Verecundia air.plius promulgari. 
Obiit 16 die Augusti 
Anno redemptionis nostrae 1760, 
yEtatis suas 67. 

On the other is this inscription, 

HIC DEPOS1TUM EST CORPUS 
GU LI ELM I DIXON, GENEROSr, 
HUJUS MUNICIPII 
SCRIBiE communis. 

UT NESIS NESCIUS VIATOR, 
OMMA HOMINIS Cl VISQUE OFF1CIA 
LUJ3ENTER EXEQUENS, 

Q 


THE HISTORY 1 OP 


182 

vixir 

l? OA : RUS AMICIS. 

MORTE PREMATURA ABREPTUS, 
DECESS1T 
FLEBILIS multis 
13 DIE SEP. A. D. 1761. 
7ETATIS SUA: 43. 


There is also another which would not be 
worthy of notice, but for an excellent parody 
written with chalk upon it, the day after it was 
put up. It is to be observed, that the good 
Lady did not absolutely pine away for the loss 
of her husband ; for in reality during his life 
time, there was nothing but wrangling and 
fighting between them, and, six weeks after his 
departure, the consoled herself for his death by 
marrying another: 

Sleep on blest creature in thy Urn, 

My sighs and tears cannotatvake thee: 

I must but stay until my turn, 

O then ! O then I’ll overtake thee. 

THE PARODY IS "AS FOLLOWS * 

Sleep on good Man, I do pot mourn, 

My sighs and tears shall not awake thee, 

I do not wish for thy return, 

Nor should I like to overtake tbee. 


RICHMOND. 



This Church is a Rectory, and valued in the 
King’s books atj£l5. 5s. 7d. From the late 
Inclosure of the common Fields, it is now 
worth about £ 300. a year. The presentation 
was formerly in the patronage of the Abbey of 
St. Mary near York, now in that of the Lord 
High Chancellor. The view in the Church¬ 
yard, particularly from the Rectory, is very 
pleasing, and furnished with such objects a* 
are necessary ingredients in a fine landscape. 
The adjoining hills, covered with cattle and 
wood, overhang the river, which, winding 
under the Clink-Bank,* glides along in a ser¬ 
pentine direction, till it reaches the Abbey of 
St. Agatha, where it is lost ; and when the 
evening Sun with its departing rays gilds thy. 
lovely scene, it caunot^ upon a small scale, 
be any where surpassed for the agreeable com¬ 
bination of water, ruins, and verdant meadows 
arranged in beautiful order. 

t t ■ * * * • * 

In the C1inrch*Yard is placed the FREE 
GRAMMAR SCHOOL, a plain, neat, struc¬ 
ture, founded by the Burgesses in the Ninth year 
of Queen Elizabeth. She, upon the Petition 
of the then Burgesses, grants to them by Iter ii- 

* Fkom the German Klingh , the side of a hilj. 

Q 2 




184 THE HISTORY OF 


cence power to build and endow a Free Grammar 
School, to be under the government of one 
Master for ever. Appoints the then four Bai¬ 
liffs of the Borough and their successors, guar¬ 
dians and Governors of all the Lands, Tene¬ 
ments, and other Hereditaments granted, or 
to be granted and assigned to the maintenance 
of the said School. Gives them the power, 
w ith the assent of the Majority of the Burgesses* 
of nominating and appointing a Master upon 
any vacancy, which is to take place within twro 
months. Grants to the Guardians and Go¬ 
vernors special licence, free and lawful power, 
and authority, of having, acquiring, and re¬ 
ceiving, to them and their successors for ever, 
for the sustaining and maintaining of the said 
School, Messuages, Lands, Tenements, and 
other hereditaments to the clear annual value of 
401. Ordains that all the issues and rents of the 
Lands bo acquired, and wherewith the said School 
shall be endowed, be converted, appropriated, 
and employed, to aud for the maintenance and 
support of the Master for the time being ; and 
to Ihe sustaining and upholding of the said 
lands, possessions, and hereditaments, and to 
no other use whatever, 

* f XvV>-". J 

Tuf. Lands being advanced in value, fines 


RICHMOND. 


185 


were taken by the Governor and a new 
School built : but in the year 1718, the Master 
claiming the tines as belonging to him, and de¬ 
manding that the Leases, when expired, should 
be renewed at a full Rent, a suit was be¬ 
gun in Chancery : but the Master dying, no 
final decree was made. A new Master being 
chosen, and the lands upon the expiration of 
the Leases being worth a great deal more money, 
the Governors offered to pay the Master 70 1. 
a year, and apply the remainder of the money 
to reimburse the charge of the Suit, and other 
expences of the School. The matter seems to 
have been so far settled in the Master’s favour, 

f; 

that he at this time receives the whole of the 
Rents, deducting only a small part payable to 
the Chamberlain for the trouble of collecting 
them. The Revenues, on account of the great 
increase in the value of land, are worth about 
s£ 300. a year. 

All the several rights, powers, and privt. 
leges, as relating to the constitution and go¬ 
vernment of the said School, are particularly 
specified in the said grant, which is lodged 
among the Records in the Chapel of the Rolls. 
The right of nominating a Master, and ot 

Q 3 


186 


THE HISTORY OF 


being Guardians and Governors of the School 
and its Revenues, formerly in the Bailiffs and 
Burgesses, is now, upon the renewal of the 
Corporation Charter, devolved upon the Mayor 
and Aldermen j and what books and other in¬ 
struments there are, relating to the Revenues 
vernment of the School, are in their cus- 



\ 


\ 


TAy School has a common Seal ; the figure 
of a School Master in the dress of the times, a 
Jong cloak ancf~s1ouched hat, with a pastoral 
staff in his right hand, and a pouch hanging on 
the arm ; in hisjeft a string of beads ; at each 
side ©f him are placed the Arms of England, and 
round the whole is this Inscription “SIG1L- 



“ GENSIUM DE RICHMOND.” * 


Tins School is conducted on a large and liberal 
plan, and has long been famous as a Seminary 
of sound learning and Religious education ; nor 
will it lose its credit in the hands of its present 
very worthy and learned possessor, many of 
whose Pupils will no doubt hereafter be vct y 
high in their respective professions. 


* Since the above description was written, the follow¬ 
ing account of the seal has fallen into the Editor’s hands. 

I. The figure on the Seal of Richmond School is that 



RICHMOND. 187 

SCHOOLMASTERS. 

A. D. 

John Ptirveing . .. 1696. 

William Thompson. 1706. 

Robert Close.1722. 

Anthony Temple .... . . 1750. 

James Tate * 1796. 

Th ere is another School established by the 
Corporation about three years ago for the Edu¬ 
cation of 30 boys selected by that Body: the 
Master is allowed 50. a year, a House, and 
a School-Room. The School is regulated by a 
Committee appointed by the Corporation. 
The other poor Children in the lowiij who 
have not an opportunity of getting into these 
Schools are taught and provided for in various 
ways* and receive an Education suitable to 
their situation from the charitable contributions 
of individuals, so that the whole are in some 
measure instructed. Philip Eord W iiakton 


pf St. James of Compostella with a scrip, staff, rosary, 
“ cockle shell on hat brim, ” &c. On each side are the 
Arms of England and France quartered. Probably, the 
School was dedicated to him, as that at Kh*y TO » 

St- John the Baptist. J. /?•] 








188 THE HISTORY OF 


b 7 his Will left an estate near Bedale, now 
called (he Bible Estate, to supply with Bibles, 
Prayer, and Catechism Books, not only this 
place, but every Parish where he had pro¬ 
perty. These are distributed every year 
to the poor Children, which makes every Child, 
on arriving at a proper age, and when capable 
of using them, receive a Bible and Prayer 
Book bound together in a strong and useful 
manner. 

A Young La dies’ Boarding-Schoolhaslately, 
to the great advantage of the Town and Neigh¬ 
bourhood, been established under the conduct 
of two Sisters, qualified to teach not only every 
fashionable, but also the more useful accom¬ 
plishments. Likewise there are Masters of 
emiuence in every branch of polite Education* 
which makes this Town a desirable place of re¬ 
sidence for large genteel families. 

Several Sunday Schools have been ap¬ 
pointed since the first establishment of them. 
They are supported by a liberal subscription of 
the Inhabitants, and from (he general good ap¬ 
peal ance of the Children, and their regular at¬ 
tendance at Church, it is to be hoped that they 


RICHMOND. 189 


have done good. Committees of Ladies and 
Gentlemen are chosen to attend their respective 
Schools, who take care that every thing is con¬ 
ducted in a proper manner. 

« *. . » ' *(>' * . '\t . r • • i 1 ?} ; • * '/»* , i H.l | j i 

Two Friendly Societies of both sexes, or 
associations of Individuals for the support of 
each other in time of sickness, and whilst la¬ 
bouring under the infirmities of old age, have 
been long conducted here upon so liberal a 
plan, that many of the old Members, at a 
certain period of life, have subsisted entirely 
upon them. Each Member, between the ages 
that are specified, subscribes a monthly sum, 
and when past 70, receives without any jtiore 
expence an allowance, which makes old age in 
some manner comfortable. The Men’s Club 
was established in the year 1763, and consists 
©f 220 Members ; by reason of this great num¬ 
ber of Members the Funds are well kept up 
and in a flourishing condition. The yearly 
Meeting is the first Monday in July, when a 
comfortable dinner used to be provided at a 
moderate rate, but last year it was agreed that 
this dinner should lie laid aside, and the money 
usually expended be added to the Fund. The 
AVomen’s Club was established in 1774, and 
consists of 100 Members ; several Ladies ar© 


190 THE HISTORY OF 


Honorary Subscribers without any idea of 
future emolument. Their annual dinner is the 
second Monday in July. 

There was also a Benevolent Society in¬ 
stituted here about, two years ago for the benefit 
of lying-in married women, supported by the 
charitable contributions of Ladies, who con. 
duct it by a Committee chosen every year. 
Every honest, sober, industrious woman, who 
applies for this charity, receives three sheets, 
two shifts, and two suits of baby linen; these 
to be returned at the end of one month properly 
washed ; besides fifteen Shillings* for the months 
unity other articles are allowed, not to be re¬ 
turned, This Institution haa been attended 
with every success, to the. great comfort of 
many an honest heart in the hour of affliction. 

^ ;r '» t tu 4 .. 

Several other Charities are so privately 
managed, that many a worthy family, labour¬ 
ing under concealed temporary difficulties, has 
received that seasonable relief, 

“ Which droppeth as the gentle rain from Heavon, 
And blesseth him that gives, and him that takes.” 

I ' . i ■ < 

And indeed the disposition of the Town is so 


RICHMOND. 


191 


humane, that, though deaf to the forward 
clamorous beggar, it has never been found 
averse to raise a Fund for the support of any 
real distressed object, who modestly retiring 
from public view pines away in secret. 

Three Circulating Libraries, containing 
every new Publication worthy of attention, and 
conducted with all due accommodation to the 
readers, have been long established in this place, 
and three Book Societies upon the best plan, 
so that the Lovers of Literature have always an 
ample fund of entertainment. 

The METHODIST CHAPEL in Ryder s 
Wynd was built in the year 1807, a large spa¬ 
cious building, and cost about * 8750 , it is at¬ 
tended by a numerous society. Their times of 
Public Meeting are on Sundays, and occasion¬ 
ally on other days. This Society was first 
formed in Richmond about the year 1774. 

On ascending the hill, the New Street 
called KING STREET presents itself, which 
has lately been made to the great improvement 
ef the Town, and forms a pleasant and conve¬ 
nient road to the Market-Place from the back 


192 


THE HISTORY OF 


©f the Friar’s, over an old piece of enclosed 
ground called Plasingdale, some time since 
taken away, and the late King’s Arm’s Inn now 
pulled down. Phis has been attended with an 
cxpence to the Corporation of <^600. ; it was 
opened in October, 1813, 

• 5* • : ’ .i / i ? >i. i ;■ i‘ 

Near it is the THEA TRE, a neat House, 
well fitted up, and the scenery and other orna¬ 
ments very appropriate. A very good com¬ 
pany is generally provided by the Manager, 
who brings out every new Piece, that may 
gratify the Public. It wa3 built about 27 years 
ago by the late Manager Mr. Butler, and 
opened with the play of Incle and Yarico : it is 
capable of containing near ^40. 

A little higher up Fryer’s Wynd near the 
Postern, is the QUAKER’S MEETING, a 
very plain building, characteristic of the sim¬ 
plicity and decency of that orderly Society. 
There are no Members now in the Town be¬ 
longing to it, and the House is at present oc¬ 
cupied by a School.Master. Their burial- 
ground is in a back lane, which from this cir¬ 
cumstance is called Quaker Lane. 


RICHMOND. 


193 


The ROxM AN CATHOLICS formerly as¬ 
sembled for Divine Worship in Newbiggin at a 
private House occupied by their Priest; but 
the late Sir John Lawson, Bart, with his usual 
liberality and at an expence of ^£900. erected 
about three years ago the present handsome 
Chapel on a more enlarged plan, and suitably 
adapted to all the ceremonies of their Religion. 
It is very neatly fitted up and will contain 
about 200 persons. In the Gallery Window 
is a very fine painting of the Crucifixion 
beautifully coloured upon glass, which merits 
particular attention for the arrangement of the 
whole group. Several pious persons surround 
the cross, who seem overwhelmed with grief, 
particularly Mary our Lord’s Mother, dis¬ 
tinguished by her looks of anguish on beholding 
the Soldier piercing her Son’s side. The hor 
rid countenance of the hardened Thief, who 
from anguish has torn his foot from the nail, 
and the mild resignation of the penitent one, 
contribute to the general effect. This valuable 
relique of antiquity was formerly in the Chapel 
of the late Lady Wen man, who, among her 
other effects, bequeathed it to her Nephew 
Thomas Stapleton, Esq. of the Grove, 
and by him presented to this Chapel. I here is 

R 


194 


THE * I STORY OF 


another painting of the Crucifixion over the 
Altar, with a distant view of Jerusalem and 
Mount Calvary, but this merits no particular 
notice. Service is performed here by the Rev. 
Thomas Lawson every Sunday and other days 
to a numerous and respectable congregation. 


Higher up the Street on the left is the 
GAOL which formerly belonged to the Earls 
of Richmond. In the 8th year of Edward I. 
the then Earl, being summoned to answer be¬ 
fore John de Vallibus one of His Majesty’s 
itinerant Justices by what warrant he claimed 
to have certain privileges through the whole 
liberty of Richmond, appeared and demanded 
to have, not by Charter from the Conqueror, 
but by prescription, or from time in which 
memory does not exist, these following liberties: 
6i The custody of Prisoners at Richmond, and 
a a Prison within the precinct of the Liberty 
u of Richmondshire : that he and all his tenants 
tc within the Town of Richmond should he free 
“ from the County Courts and from common 
£ ‘ Amerciament : to have Infangtheof* through 


* Infangtheof, a privilege granted unto Lords of 
certain Manors to judge any Thief taken within their 



RICHMOND. 


195 


ail the Liberty of Richmond : to have a 
* 4 Mine of Lead : to have a Market once a 
<c week, and Fairs twice a year ; to have the 
t( returus of Writs and to plead the Sheriff's 
Ci Writs ; and to have his Borough at Rich- 
u mond free,” with many others not affecting 
this Town. This Gaol now belongs to the 
Duke of Leeds, as Chief Bailiff of the Liberty 
and Franchise of Richmond and Richmond- 
shire, who holds Courts here, where actions 
under 40$. are brought ; it is a place of con¬ 
finement for Debtors and likewise Felons till 
sent to York Castle. 

• 

A little to the right at Long-hill is a very 
good substantial building, the WORK.HOLSF, 
for the Poor of the Parish, where they are 
maintained with cloaths and every comfort 
suitable to their situation. It is not only at¬ 
tended by the Overseers of the Poor, but by a 
Committee of Gentlemen, who frequently visi^ 
the House and take oare that the old and in¬ 
firm receive kind treatment. In manufacturing 
Towns, where the population is extensive, a 

• -■■■-- -, * * -. 

Fee. The Gallows formerly stood at the Past’end of 
the G allow field near the present quarry. 

R 2 



196 THE HISTORY OE 

great number of the labouring Poor is compelled 
to seek Parish relief, when a deficiency of em¬ 
ployment arises from the stagnation of Trade. 
As no Manufactories of any consequence are 
established here, the Poor, who apply for ad¬ 
mittance to this House, are few, and the Parish 
Rates, in comparison with the neighbouring 
Towns, may be reckoned very easy. 

But the greatest ornament of Richmond is 
the fine beautiful Tower of the Church of the 
G SiE Y FR l A RS, which stands in the North 
pait of the Town, and from its handsome light 
appearance cannot fail to attract the attention 
of every stranger. This House was founded 
in the year 1258, the 42d. of Henry III. 
by Ralph Fitz-R a ndolph Lord of Middle- 
ham, and continued near three hundred 
years in a flourishing condition, having re¬ 
ceived many Benefactions from the Earls 
of Richmond, Ralph de Glanville and others. 
It was surrendered in 1539 by Robert Sander¬ 
son the last Master and 14 Brethren, and 
granted six years after to John Banyster 
and William Metcalf. In 1653 there remained 
in charge in corodies*. 


* Corqpy was a sum of money or allowance of meat, 









































































. Kr- ■' ' ,*• 












■ 











- 










RICHMOND. 


197 


The present building was erected not long 
before the dissolution, and said not to have 
been finished. From this specimen one may 
form a good idea of the whole. The founder 
died in 1270, and his bones were buried in the 
Choir at Coverham, but his heart, enclosed in 
a leaden Urn, was placed by his orders in the 
Choir of this Church, under an arch. There 
were several of the Scropes, of the Plesseys, 
and of the Frankes buried here. This order 
of Friars was called Franciscans from their 
founder St. Francis, Grey Friars from their 
cloathing, and Friar Minors from their 
pretended humility. Their habit was a loose 
garment of grey colour reaching down to their 
ancles, with a cowl of the same, and a cloak 
over it when they went abroad ; they girded 
themselves with cords and went bare footed. 
It is generally supposed that they came into 
England in 1224. Leland tells rs “ 1'hat at 
‘ 4 the back of Frenchgate in the North part of 
“ the Tt vii is the Grey Friars, a little with* 
“ out the walls. Their House, Garden, < r- 


drink, and cloathing;, due to the King from an Ab'.ey 
or ojher Religious House, towards the suppont or such 
..is Servants as he thought lit to bestow it upon. 




108 THE HISTORY of 

u chard, and a little Meadow, is walled in. 
u There is a conduit of water, else there is 
4C none in Richmond. Not far from the Frere’3 
u wall is a Chapel of St. Anthony ” These 
Houses were very seldom endowed ; the Friars 
being by their profession mendicants, were 
allowed to have no property, but to subsist 
entirely upon the charity of individuals; yet 
many of them had large and stately buildings,- 
and noble Churches, in which several great 
personages chose to be buried. According td 
the rules of the order, there were no lands be« 
longing to this House, except the Friars’ 
Closes containing about 16 acres, which the 
walls enclosed. In the 32d. of Edward I. a 
Friar of this House having stolen some goods, and 
flying from the Monastery, the King ordered him 
to be imprisoned by his Writ of Apostata Capi- 
enda, and directed that he should be delivered 
to the Convent, to be by them punished accord¬ 
ing to the rules of their order ; and further 
commanded, that the stolen goods should bfc 
restored. The Writ, which runs as follows, 
is preserved in Rymer’s Records, vol. iii. 
page 1042. u The King to the Sheriff of Cum- 
u berland, greeting, 

46 Whereas our beloved Brother in Christ. 


RICH MOM). 


190 


u Brother Adam de Lincoln, Minister erf 
44 the order of Friars Minorites in England, 
44 has by his Letters given us to understand, 
44 that Brother A rthur de Hertipole, a professed 
44 Brother of that order, hath in contempt of his 
44 habit, dared to escape from this Monastery, 
44 and to take with him certain Goods and 
44 Chattels, the property of some friends and 
44 neighbours of the Brothers of that order at 
44 Kichmond, deposited under their care ; and 
44 after he had w andered for some time from 
44 County to County in a secular habit, to the 
44 great danger of his soul and the manifest 
44 scandal of the said order, he was arrested at 
44 Quitonthaneve with the above Goods and 
44 Chattels, and is now detained in our Gaol at 
44 Egremond. We for the credit of that order, 
44 and also on account of the devotion, which 
44 we have and bear towards them, Do direct, 
44 that without delay you deliver the aforesaid 
44 Brother Arthur so taken and detained, to 
44 the said Brotherhood at Richmond, to the 
44 end that he may be chastised according to 
44 the Rules and Discipline of that Order, re* 
44 storing to the said Brothers forthwith the 
44 Goods and Chattels found on him, as has 
44 beeu before asserted. 

44 Witness the KING at Dalton 
“ The 29th Day of September, 1304.” 


200 


THE HISTORY OF 


In a Manuscript in the Harleian collection, 
containing an account of the grants of King 
Edwaiib V. and Richard III. there is the 
following entry ; 

“ A Warrant to Geffrey Franke, receyvor 
<c of Middleham, to content the Freres of 
u Richmond with 12 marks, 6s. 8d. for the 
u saying of 1000 Masses for King Edward IV . 

u Given at York, the 26th Day 
“ of May... Anno primo.” 

The site of the Tower and the premises within 
the walls now belong to John Robinson, Esq. 
who has made great improvements by clearing 
the Tower and Grounds of many useless build¬ 
ings, and by making some ornamental Planta¬ 
tions. To this Gentleman the Corporation has 
lately made a present of a handsome Silver Salver, 
valued at 100 Guineas, as a reward for his long 
and faithful services as Town-Clerk. 

Not long since the Corporation gave another 
Piece of Plate, a large Silver Cup of the value 
of 80 Guineas, to William Chattok, of 
Spenuithorne, Esq. when he through old age 
retired from the respectable situation of Re¬ 
corder or Seneschal. 


RICHMOND. 


201 


West of the Friary was situated the NUN¬ 
NERY, but of what order, by whom founded, 
or with what endowed, cannot at this time be 
traced. In the pipe roll* of the 18 th of 
Henry II. mention is made of the Nuns of 
Richmond, and that the Nunnery was situated 
at the West end of the Grey Friars. Nothing 
more concerning these religious women is to be 
met with, than that Nuns close was granted by 
Queen Elizabeth, by her Letters Patent dated 
the 6th of August, in the 44th year of her reign, 
to Richard Lydall and William Dodd, as parcel 
of the possessions of John Gower of Aske, Esq. 
late of High Treason attainted; and there was 
lately a well called Nuns well near the same 
place, but now covered over by the late inclo¬ 
sures of the waste ground. 

Besides the two Churches already mentioned, 
there were several Chapels in different parts of 
the Town, dedicated to St. Edmund the King, 
St. Nicholas, St. Anthony in Pinfold-green, at 
the corner leading into Quaker-Lane ; on this 


* A Roll in the Exchequer, otherwise called tb* 
Great Roll, in which is entered an account of the Debts 
and Revenues due to the King* 





202 THE HISTORY CtF 


Green the Beast-Market was formerly held, 
and where there was a Cross called St. An¬ 
thony’s Cross ; one to St. James ill Bargate, 
in a lane called Chapel End, part of the 
walls of this yet remains ; a College at the 
North side of the Market-Place.* At a little 
distance was a sacred Well dedicated to St. 
Osyth, an old virgin, who came out of Scy thia, 
and from thence took her name ; she had a 
Chantry at Skeeby, formerly Scythby or by 
St. Scy th. There was a Chapel near Ankeridge- 
hill in a plafce called Maison-Dieu, occupied 
by ah Anchoress, to whom Twenty.one Shillings 
a year were paid by the Priory of St. Martins, a 
grant from Wymar sewer to the Earl of Rich¬ 
mond. 

i n the remains of this Chapel an HOSPI¬ 
TAL for three poor Widows was founded in 
the ye'ht 1618 by Eleanor Bowes, Widow, 
and relict of Robert Bowes of Aske, Esq. two 
of them to be chosen out of the Town and 
■ ■ ■ - - -_•. ■ ■ ... . 

* About 45 years ago, as a person of the name of Al- 
flerson, who occupied these last mentioned premises, 
was making a Drain in the Court behind his House, he 
found a large Stoi i6 Coffin, which was given to Mrs* 
Wade, who made a Fire Place of it in her Shop, now 



MCHMONB. 


203 

Parish of Richmond, and one out of the Parish 
of Easeby. For the maintenance of the Widow*, 
and for repairing and upholding the Hospital, she 
endowed it with a yearly rent charge of ^10. 
payable out of a Farm called Lownewath by 
the possessor thereof; which j£10. she reserved 
to herself on her sale of that Estate to Leonard 
Laidman, sometime before she founded the 
Hospital, and which was to be paid to her or her 
assigns on the first of December every year in 
the Chapel of the Holy Trinity. The Alder¬ 
man, Recorder, Rector, and School-Master 
for the time being and their successors are ap¬ 
pointed Trustees to choose the said poor widows, 
and to apply the charity to the above uses. 

Each Widow is to have on March 1st. June 1st. 

. 

September 1st. and December 1st. 13s. 4d. 
out of the remaining 40s, 1 1. 6s. 8d. is to be 
paid the first of May yearly to them, for the 
providing of turves and coals ; the 13s. 4d. re¬ 
sidue of the said 10 1. is to be employed in the 
repair of the House, supplying .bedding and 
furniture. And whatsoever of the said J3s. 4d. 


occupied by Mr. Wood, Sadler. There was part of a 
Pulpit standing in one of the| rooms about 25 years 
since, which was removed by Mr. Outhwarte the then 
Fen ant. 





204 


THE HISTORY OF 


shall not be soemploytd, is to be put into the 
common box, to answer their relief in case of 
sickness, or for gowns or coats suitable to their 
situations. This Charity has been kept up ac- 
cor ing to its institution, and the 101 a year is 
regularly paid half yearly to the Widows by the 
owner of Eownewath as an accommodation to 
them. There is a picture of the Foundress 
kept in the Hospital as an heir loom, in the 
dress of the times, and in high preservation. 

This Eleanor Bowes likewise gave on the 
12th of June 1618 £ 40. to the Alderman, Re¬ 
corder, and 12 Burgesses of Richmond, Mr. 
John Metcalf then Alderman, and Cuthbert 
Pepper of St. Martin’s, Esq. Recorder, and to 
their Successors for ever, to be by them let out 
to six or eight poor Tradesmen or Artificers of 
the Town for three years gratis, and then to be 
paid in, and let out again to six or eight others 
in like manner. Every person having the 
benefit of any part of the money, was to find 
sufficient securities for the same ; and likewise 
during the time he has the benefit of it, was to 
bestow and deliver yearly on the first of July to 
the poor Widows, resident in the Widow’s 
Hospital or Bead*House, four bushels of Bish- 


RICHMOND. 


205 


oprick Coals. This charity has been lost for 
want of a suitable attention in the Trustees, 
and perhaps too late ever to be recovered. 

This charitable old Lady died Ju!> 25, 1623, 
and is buried in Easeby Church, to whose me¬ 
mory there is a Brass Plate on the wall at the 
East end of the South Aisle, near an Altar 
Tomb of black Marble, which in all proba¬ 
bility was hers ; on the Plate is this Inscrip¬ 
tion : 

44 Here iyeth Elenor Bowes, daughter to 
44 Sir Richard Musgkave, of Hartley Castle 
44 Knight. She was onlie heire to him and to 
44 her Brother, Mr. Thomas Musgiiave, who 
44 died a Ward in Queen Elizabeth’s time 
44 in the 19th year of his age : she was hindered 
44 from possessing the inheritance by compo- 
44 sition and intailes. She was Grand-child to 
44 Thomas first Lord Wharton. She was 
44 wife to worthie Robert Bowes of Aske, Esq. 
44 bein" Thresuror of Barwick and Embassador 
44 for Scotland the most part of one and twenty 
44 years : she lived comfortablie his Wife one 
44 and thirty years and a half: she remained 
44 his Widowe at Aske about five and twenty 
44 years : She departed this life in the Ho!ie 

S 


306 THE HISTORY OF 


cc Profession of God’s Truth in the 77th year 

\ 

u of her age the 25th day of July, Anno 
“ Domini, 1623.” 

There were many other Charities left by 
well disposed persons to the Inhabitants of 
Richmond, some of which are lost, and others 
yet remain. 

The Audit Money of 12 1. given by the 
Crown has been already mentioned, and like¬ 
wise the Free Grammar School. 

Dr. Allen by his Will left some.exhibitions 
to Scholars going to the University from this 
School. This charity has been lost. Dr. 
Allen’s Will is said to have been proved in the 
Consistory Court at Norwich. 

In the year 1525, Mr. Cotterell left a legacy 
of a gilt Silver Salt Cellar w ith a cover weighing 
14 ounces, and 1001. to the Corporation. The 
Salt Cellar to the use of the Aldermen, and in 
consideration of the 1001. the Corporation was 
to pay the Parson of the Parish Church 81. 
yearly at two payments, which has been regu¬ 
larly paid to this day 


RICHMOND. 


207 


Richard Thompson of Richmond, by his 
last Will dated February 10th, 1572, gave to 
the poor of Richmond forever one Rood of land 
in the East Field of the yearly value of Two 
Shillings, to be distributed at Easter and Christ¬ 
mas, at the discretion of Eduard Anderson and 
Ralph Peacock, and their heirs for ever. It 
is feared this Charity is lost. 

Richard Hutchinson of Richmond, mer¬ 
chant, by his last Will dated November 22, 
1580. gave to the poor of Richmond yearly 
Ten Shillings, payable out of a Close, which 
he had bequeathed to Christopher Hutchinson, 
lying at the west end of the north side of Ry¬ 
der’s Wynd, The bailiffs of the Free School 
are authorised to receive and apply this bequest 
yearly to (he use of the poor at the Feasts of 
Pentecost and St. Martin the Bishop in Winter. 
From an old Memorandum still extant dated 
about the year 1744 this Ground is described 
as u That parcel of Land on the West of Mr. 

Biucks’s House in Frenohgate : for though 
u it is now divided, it was remembered all as 
u one parcel: and the back way to Mr. 
u Bincks’s house laid along the wall side of 

S 2 


I 


*208 THE HISTORY OF 


44 Sir Joseph Cradock’s garden wail to the pas- 
44 sage leading to the back door and other 
44 offices there, but never paid that can be re- 
44 collected.” 


Mr. Thomas Wayne, by his last Will 
dated June 28, 1613, gave to the poor of Rich¬ 
mond an annual (lent of fifteen Shillings out of 
certain lands in Langton, Richmond, and Fink- 
hill, to be paid yearly upon St. Martin’s for 
ever. 


In the year 1618 , Mrs. Elizabeth Malbon 
by her last Will left a legacy of Five Pounds 
for the use of the Poor of Richmond, to be let 
oul at Interest by the Aldermen and Burgesses 
for the time being, and the Interest thereof to 
be given by them yearly at Christmas to the 
poor and needy people at Fourpence a-piece, 
so far as the same will amount to. 

Thomas Taylor, D. D. in the year 1629, 
gave Fifteen Pounds to the Aldermen and Bur¬ 
gesses of Richmond to be laid out yearly in 
coals for the use of the poor people, and sold 
to them in Winter for one penny a peck. 


RICHMOND. 


209 


In the year 1656, Philip Lord Wharton 
gave Twenty Pounds to the Aldermen and Bur¬ 
gesses to be employed to the same use and pur¬ 
pose. In a Memorandum made in the year 
1744 by a Gentleman conversant in Corpora¬ 
tion matters, these remarkable words occur. 
44 These two last mentioned charities have been 
44 totally suuk and embezzled by negligence and 
t( default of the 'Trustees, but in what period, or 
44 whose time, I cannot gain any information ; 
44 for though I have been conversant with the 
44 auditing of the Corporation accounts for the 
44 last 42 years, I cannot once remember these 
44 charities ever accounted for. And tins I 
64 think I am obliged to say in vindication of 
44 the present aud late Trustees in my own 
44 time.” 

In 1650, Commissioners were appointed to 
sell the Fee-Farm Rents belonging the Common 
Wealth of England, and among the many dispo¬ 
sed of were the following ; the Fee-Farm Rent 
of^9. 10s. 2d. halfpenny payable by Robert 
Stirley and Fredeswide his wife and their heirs, 
out. of the Site of Egglestone Abbey in th*> Arch¬ 
deaconry of Richmond and the lands belonging 
to it, granted to them by Edward VT. in the 

S 3 


210 


THE HISTORY OF 


6th year of his reign; The Fee-Farm Rent of 
«s£10. 11s 6d. payable by Sir Henry Sydney, 
Knight, and his heirs, out of that Grainge called 
Watiicote late belonging to the dissolved 
Monastery of St. Agatha, granted to him by 
the said King the 20th of June in the 7th year 
of his reign ; And the the Fee. Farm Rent of 
j€S. 17 s, 8d. payable by the said Sir Henry 
Sydney, Knight, and his heirs out of the Grainge 
of Waitwitii to the said late Monastery belong¬ 
ing. These three Fee-Farm Rents amounting in 
the whole to ,s£23 19s 4d. halfpenny were sold 
by the said Commissioners to Robert Gosling Al¬ 
derman of the Borough of Richmond, J ohn 
Wastell, Esq. Recorder, Francis Smythson, 
Richard Dawson, John Chaytor, William Wet- 
waitig, Thomas Smythson, and Philip Smayle 
for the sum of ^311. 11s. lOd. halfpenny, of 
which 401. 11s. 1 Id. halfpenny had been before¬ 
hand paid. The Commissioners by their order 
dated October 17, 1650, allowed and forgave the 
remainder (270 1. 19s. 1 Id.) to the said Robert 
Gosling, &c. the Trustees for and in considera¬ 
tion of the following Corodiesand Alms, namely, 
101. 6s. 3d. to be paid to the poor of Rich¬ 
mond and the City of Durham and places there¬ 
about, and a Pension of 41. 10s. 8d. a year to 


RICHMOND. 211 

the assistant Curate of the Parish of Rich¬ 
mond. 

The Commissioners as by particulars under 
their hands granted to the said Robert Gos¬ 
ling, &c. the said yearly Fee.Farm Rents in 
trust for the said poor and assistant Curate ; 
and the remainder 3 1. 2s. 5d. halfpenny was to 
be paid to Francis Smythson the purchaser and 
his heirs. ' 

Dr. iT ohn Bathurst, by his Will dated 
1659, gave and bequeathed out of his Messuages, 
Lands, and Tenements in the Town and Town¬ 
ship of Richmond, a yearly charge of £1% for 
ever, to the charitable uses and purposes fol¬ 
lowing. That is to say, Eight Pounds a year 
part thereof, towards the maintenance of two 
poor Scholars at the University of Cambridge, 
who shall be found pious, virtuous and compe¬ 
tently learned, during their continuance in the 
University, till they commence Masters of 
Arts ; but to cease to such as shall discontinue 
above one quarter of a year together, or to 
such as shall be employed out of the University 
in any other calling or employment. 

The other Four Pounds, residue of the said 



212 


THE HISTORY OP 


aS12. to be employed for the putting forth one 
poor Boy every year to be an apprentice, who 
shall be born within the said Borough, and who 
can read and write well, and in some competent 
manner cipher or cast accounts, and to no 
other. The said poor Scholars and Apprentices 
are to be chosen by the Alderman, Recorder, 
Rector, and School-Master of the Town of 
Richmond for the time being, or any three of 
them. 

This charity has been given and employed by 
the Trustees hitherto according to the donation, 
and is payable out of the house now known by 
the sign of the King’s Head, and se\eral acres 
of land lying in different parts of the Gallow- 
Field. 

Maiager Norton of Richmond, Esq by 
his Indenture made January 17, in the 20th 
year of Charles II. gave and granted unto 
John Bartlett the Elder, Henry Bartlett the 
Younger, and Edward Wyville, three of the 
Aldermen of the Borough of Richmond, the 
sum of Twenty Pouuds, to have and to 
hold the Interest arising out of the said 
Twenty Pounds unto the said three Aldermen 
their Executors, Administrators, and As¬ 
signs to the sole proper use and benefit of the 
poor Tradesmen of the said Borough in such 


RICHMOND. 


213 


sort and after such manner as the said three 
Aldermen, their Executors, Administrators, 
and Assigns in their wisdom and discretion 
judge most fit, requisite, and necessary. 

In a Memorandum made in the year 1731 

there is this observation ‘ 4 There can be no dis- 

4 * covery made of this grant, and all the above 

44 Trustees being long since dead, it is appre- 

<4 bended from the best account that can be got, 

44 that the Trustees lai4 out this money inland; 

44 for to this Day and Year, and for many years 

44 past, 4s. a year has been paid out of a 

44 piece of Land lying on the right side of the 

‘ 4 way between Wrang-Acres and Brompton- 

“ Bridge. The yearly payments have oeen 

“ made by one Mr, Lodge of Brorrpton, the 

ei Owner of the Ground before described, to 

44 the Mayor of Richmond for the time being, 

4f and by him applied and given to some poor 

•* 

44 decayed Tradesmen there ; for in the year 
4 ‘ 1728 it was received by the Mayor of Mr. 
* 4 Lodge, and given to Martin Darnton and 
4 ' Thomas Butterfield, two poor old Trades- 
men. And in the year 173L it was again 
4 ‘ received by the Mayor of Mr. Lodge and 
i{ given to Martin Darnton and Christopher 
t€ Horseman, two poor old decayed Trades* 


214 THE HISTORY OF 


44 men.” And in the Memorandum dated 1746, 
u The like sum of j€1. 4s. was received by the 
44 Mayor of Mr. Joseph Lodge of York, the 
44 present Owner of the Ground, and the same 
44 disposed of by giving 18s. to John Kay and 
44 6s. to Christopher Farmer, Barber.” 

Mu. Francis Allen, Alderman of Rich¬ 
mond, by an Indenture dated July 1, 1685, 
gave unto the Mayor of Richmond, the Aider- 
men thereof, and their Successors for ever, an 
annuity or yearly rent charge of 11. 4s. issu¬ 
ing out and chargeable upon a certain parcel of 
land lying in the West Field, containing by 
estimation four acres, to be by them disposed of 
and given unto some deca) ed Tradesman within 
the Borough of Richmond for his better support 
and maintenance, and increase of his Stock ; or 
to some young person of the said Borough, a 
Free Tradesman, that is setting up or begin¬ 
ning to Trade for himself, as the said Mayor 
and Aldermen or the greater number of them 
from time to time think fit ; to be paid yearly, 
and every year to the use aforesaid for ever 
upon January the i3th in the Common Hall of 
Richmond aforesaid. Memorandum; 44 By 
44 the best information that can be got, this 


RICHMOND. 


215 


“ Charity has been paid and applied till the 
“ Mayoralty of Alderman Elsworth ; since 

which it has been and now is in arrear and 
“ unpaid; so that on Januaryl3, 1741, 101.16s. 
“ of this Charity was due. And be it remem. 
44 bered that though an entry of the said Cha- 
44 rity is and appears in the coucher or Record 
44 Book of this Corporation, yet this very year 
4 * 1744, the original Indenture or Deed 
44 was produced and read at a Corporation 
44 Meeting then holden, and oiders given to the 
44 Town Clerk, that unless the said Charity 
44 and all arrears thereof be paid to the present 
44 Mayor and Aldermen, that the said Town- 
44 Clerk should bring an ejectment or otherwise 
44 proceed as counsel should advise for recover- 
44 ing the said Charity. Soon after the above 
44 order, the said arrear of 101. 16s. was paid 
44 to the Corporation and was by their order dis- 
44 posed of agreeable to the donation.” 

• f , 

George Scott, of Wensley, Yorkshire, 
Clerk, by his last Will and Testament dated 
December 11, 1672, among other things, gave 
and bequeathed to his loving VV ife all his lands 
in Richmond, and all his lands in A inderby, 
Yorkshire, for and during her natural life, 


THE HISTORY OF 


210 

paying 24s. a year to the poor of Richmond, 
which is the use of 20 1. his father Mr. George 
Scott gave to the poor there. And after the 
decease of his said wife, he gave to his eldest 
son George Scott all the aforesaid lands in 
Richmond and Ainderby to him and his heirs 
for ever: he paying likewise the suin of24s. 
a year to the aforesaid Poor of Richmond. 

This is now paid out of the house next to 
F'nkle Street Bar on the South-West side of 
the said Bar and Street late Allen’s, now a Sta¬ 
tioner’s Shop and Premises. 

Mu, George Pinkney, Alderman ef Rich¬ 
mond, by his Will dated January 24, 1699, 
left after the decease of his daughter before age 
or marriage, which accordingly fell out, three 
Tenements to be inhabited by three poor 
Widows receiving Alms of the Town, and a 
Shop Kent Free to a Bachelor Tailor or 
Shoemaker so long as he has so continued. And 
for the support and maintenance of the said 
three poor Widows, he left a Kent-charge of 
Six Pounds a year payable out of several houses 
and a Burgage in Richmond, to be paid 
them half yearly, and 10s. a yearly rent out of 
his lands in Hudswell to buy them coals and re- 


RICHMOND. 


217 


pair their Tenements. Tie left Mr. Francis 
Allen, Senior, John Ballaro, George Allen, 
Richard Sudell, and Edward Stevenson, to¬ 
gether with the Mayor and Rector of Richmond 
Trustees ; and in case of the death of two of 
the five Trustees above named, he makes the 
Mayor, Recorder, Foreman of the Comraou 
Council, and the two Head Church-Wardens 
for the time being and their Successors for ever, 
Trustees to execute his said Will. 

Or this Rent charge, 5 1. is paid out of a 
house belonging to the late Mr. Harrison at 
the bottom of the Shambles, and a Burgage in 
French-gate opposite the Church Lane, and 
one Pound yearly out of a House adjoining 
upon French-gate Bar, Charles Alderson late 
Owner : and 10s. yearly out of lands in Huds. 
well paid by the late Mr. Lanchester. 

Out of one acre and three roods in the West 
Field, lying between the lands of Mr. James 
Chaytor on the Fast, formerly Mr. Cowling’s, 
and lands in the occupation of Thomas Moore 
on the West, notfar from West Field Gate, is 
yearly paid the sum of 18s. given to the poor of 
Richmond for ever. This charity has been 
paid many years by Mr. John Wilson, lately 

T 


A 



218 


THE HISTORY OF 


deceased, and sinoe by his Widow, who is 
married to Leonard Childers, Esq. In 1723, 
1728, and 1746 this Charity was paid, but 
who was the original donor is not known. 

Jenking Gretam by his will gave to the 
Poor of Richmond 20s. yearly for ever, to be 
paid at the Feast of Pentecost out of his lands 
at Marsk, and authorised the Collectors for the 
Poor to enter into and distrain upon the said 
lands for non-payment. This Charity is paid 
by John Ilutton of Marske, Esq. 

» . 

Edward Maxwell by his last will gave 
4s. a year out of his house in Bargate, to be 
paid quarterly by the owners and occupiers 
thereof, to the Rector and Churchwardens for 
the time being, for the use of the poor. 

Mr. Matthew Hutchinson, Clerk, late 
Vicar of Gilling, in the Archdeaconry of 
Richmond, by his last Will dated October 12, 
1704, left certain lands, tenements, and other 
hereditaments to the yearly value of «s£20. or 
thereabouts, invested in the following Trustees 
for the use of the poor of Richmond, namely, 


RICHMOND. 


219 


Thomas Yorke, of Richmond, Esq. Wiiiiam 
Wharton of Gilling Wood, Esq. Henry Nieholls 
of Richmond, Alderman, and Mr. John Wil» 
son of Richmond mercer, and their issues, who 
together w ith other Trustees mentioned in his 
last will, namely, Mr. Henry Robson tf 
Leeds, Clerk, <he Rector of Richmond, the 
Y r icar of Gilling, the Rector of Melsonby for 
the time being, and Mr. Samuel Duffield of 
Sherburn, Clerk, are to dispose of the yearly 
Rent above mentioned to these charitable uses; 
namely, to expend yearly 40s. out of the said 
yearly Rents for teaching tvvo poor Boys be¬ 
tween the age of 7 and 10 years to read and 
write, and in providing them such small neces¬ 
saries as they shall think fit. To make choice 
yearly of two poor Boys, between the age of 
13 and 15, born in the Town, who can read 
and write, and to expend a sum not exceeding 
40s. out of the profit aforesaid, in improving 
the said two Boys in writing and the art of 
arithmetic ; and to bind out the said two Boys 
Apprentices to such Trades as they shall think 
fit, and to pay with them such sum or sums of 
money, as they think reasonable, not exceeding 
the sum of Four Pounds for each. The rest 

f i ’ ■ . , > 'll 

w 

and residue of the clear annual Rent of the 


220 


THE HISTORY OF 


lands aforesaid are by the Trustees to be ap¬ 
propriated to the maintenance of four poor 
Widows of the Parish of Richmond, to be by 
them elected. Any poor Clergyman’s Widow 
or Curate’s Widow of the said Parish, If such 
there be, are to be elected in the first pi ace ; 
and in case there should be in any one year four 
poor Widows of the Town of ftichraond qualified 
to receive the benefit of this Charity, then the 
Trustees are to distribute what remains to and 
among such poor Housekeepers in the said 
Parish, as they shall think fit. This charity 
is to be distributed yearly to the said Widows 
upon the Festivals of the Annunciation of the 
Virgin Mary and St. Michael, or twenty da)6 
after. 

And to the end that this Trust may be for ever 
preserved and managed, it is provided, that 
upon the death of any three of the first six 
named Trustees, the survivors shall elect and 
make choice of three substantial neighbouring 
persons to supply their place. This Chaiity is 
regularly applied every year. 


Mr. Christopher Clarke, by his will 
duly executed, did charge one of his Burgages 
situated in Richmond, on the South side of a 
certain Street called Newbiggin, purchased by 


RICHMOND. 


OOI 
***** 1 

him of one Michael Dent, with the payment of 
20s. yearly for ever to the Mayor of Rich, 
mond for the time being, to be applied and dis¬ 
posed of by the said Mayor, Recorder, and 
Rector of Richmond, for the time being, or any 
two of them, the Mayor for the time being to be 
one, in books, paper, and other necessaries for 
the instruction or education of one poor Boy 
at the Free School of Richmond aforesaid, 
whose Parents live within the Parish of Rich' 
mond, and which poor Boy shall be yearly ap. 
approved of and nominated by the said Mayor, 
Recorder, and Rector, or any two of them 
of whom the Mayor to be one, and that no Boy 
shall have the benefit of the said charity abov^ 
the space of three years. 

This Charity has been paid by the late John 
Yorke, Esq. out of the above mentioned 
Burgage. 


A Charity given by Mr. Gregory Elsely 
since deceased. To what uses the same is ap- 

■v 

pointed, or who are the Trustees, is not known: 
but as a donation or charity of some kind was 
given or ordered by him for the benefit of the 

poor of Richmond, an enquiry should be made 

. . #-■ 

into it. 




THE HISTORY OF 


999 

William Thompson of Richmond, Gent, 
by an Indenture made November 3, 1781, be¬ 
tween the said William Thompson od the one 
part, and the Rev. Francis Blackburne, Clerk, 
Rector of Richmond aforesaid, Fowler Hickes of 
Richmond aforesaid, Gentleman, John Elsworth 
of the same place, Gentleman, and George 
Thompson Watkin of the same place, Woollen- 
Draper and Merchant of the other part, Wit* 
Nesset ii , that for the founding a convenient 
house containing four rooms or dwellings to be 
occupied from henceforth for ever by four Poor 
Widows of the description and in manner as 
herein after mentioned, He the said William 
Thompson Hath granted to the said Fowler 
Hickes, John Elsworth, and George Thompson 
\V atkin, their heirs and assigns, and to the said 
Francis Blackburne and the succeeding Rectors 
of the Parish Church of Richmond aforesaid 
for the time being, All that Messuage or Tene¬ 
ment containing four fire rooms situate at or 
near the Castle. Hill in Richmond, and also a 
certain rervt charge of 10s. a year, to be paid 
half yearly at Martinmas and May-Day out of 
a Tenement adjoining upon the said Messuage 
and several parcels of land in the West Field, 
containing in the whole six acres and one rood- 


RICHMOND. 


223 


to h ave and to hold the slid Premises to the 
said Ti ustees for the time being, and to the Trus¬ 
tees hereafter to be appointed in pursuance of 
these presents for ever, upon trust, that the 
said Trustees shall immediately after the execu¬ 
tion hereof, admit into the first above mentioned 
Messuage Elizabeth Holder, Widow, Isabel 
Thompson, Widow, Fdizabeth Watkin, Widow, 
and Mary Cowper, Widow, each of them being 
to live and enjoy entire to herself one room 
during her natural life free of any rent, incase 
they shall live therein in a peaceable and quiet 
manner, and conform themselves to the direc¬ 
tion herein after mentioned. And upon further 
trust that as soon as any or all of the said four 
rooms shall become vacant by death or removal 
of any or all of the said four Widows above men¬ 
tioned, or any other Widow or Widows to be 
hereafter admitted into the said room or rooms, 
Thes the said Trustees shall after such va¬ 
cancy nominate into each of such rooms so 
becoming vacant one other poor Widow being 
legally settled in the Parish of Richmond, whose 
husband was by trade a Tailor and Freeman of 
the Company of Taylors at Richmond, having 
usually met the said company at Richmond upon 
the 12th day in Christmas yearly, and paid his> 


224 


THE HISTORY OF 


quarterage; and every such poor widow so 
hereafter to be admitted into such of the said 
rooms shall hold and enjoy the same entire to 
herself for and during her natural life free of 
any rent, in case she shall conform herself to 
the direction herein after mentioned. And in 
case k shall at any time so happen that there 
shall not be a sufficient number of such poor 
Widows of the description above mentioned to 
supply the said vacancy, then the said Trus¬ 
tees, or three of them, may immediately elect 
after such vacancy one or other poor Widow 
being legally settled in the Parish of Richmond, 
whose husband was by trade a Tailor, aud 
every such poor Widow of a non.freeman taylor 
so hereafter to be admitted into each of the 
said rooms, shall hold and enjoy the same en¬ 
tire to herself for so long a time and until there 
shall be a proper Widow of a Freeman Taylor 
offer for the said charity, in case she shall con¬ 
form herself to the directions herein after men¬ 
tioned; and upon further Trust, that the said 
Trustees shall from henceforth for ever by and 
out of the neat rents and profits of the aforesaid 
Premises hereby granted, deduct and retain to 
themselves the necessary expences attending 
this Trust, and also from time to time repair, 




RICHMOND. 


225 


and keep in sufficient repair the said Messuage, 
and in the next place shall divide and pay the 
residue of the rents, kc. yearly to the said 
Widows in equal parts so long as they shall 
severally continue to inhabit therein and well 
behave themselves, the same to be paid to each 
of them at foiir times in the year, on Christmas. 
Day, Lady-Day, M idsummer-Day, and Michael¬ 
mas yearly, pkovided always that no such 
Widow shall leceivemore than 40s. in anyone 
year ; and in case it shall happen that the re¬ 
sidue of such n nts after deducting Taxes, &c. 
shall exceed Light Pounds a year, then the 
surplus over that sum shall from time to time re* 
main in the hands of such Trustees, or one of 
them, until the same shall amouut to a proper 
sum and be advanced at interest or otherwise 
for the benefit of this charity, as the Trustees, 
or three of them, shall think proper, provided 
that the said Widows above named and those 
to be hereafter elected into the said rooms shall 
live (herein orderly, cleanly, peaceably, and 
quietly, and shall well behave themselves, and 
be assistant one to the other in offices of Love, 
Friendship, and Duty, as Sisters and good 
Christians ought to do; such of them as are 
Protestants shall constantly attend Divine Ser- 


*226 THE HISTORY OF 

vice and Sermons in the Parish Church of Rich¬ 
mond or Trinity Chapel on Sundays, and shall 
also constantly attend the Prayers at Trinity 
Chapel on Wednesday and Thursday weekly, 
unless prevented by sickness or other sufficient 
cause to be allowed by the said Trustees, or 
three of them; and such of them as shall not 
be Protestants, shall constantly repair to her 
or their Chapel to Public Worship, at least 
three times in every week, in case Public 
Worship shall so often be performed therein, 
unless prevented by sickness or other sufficient 
cause to be allowed as aforesaid. And on their 
non-attendance, without such cause as aforesaid, 
each Widow shall forfeit the penalty of one 
penny for each such default, to be deducted 
by the said Trustees, or three of them, from 
and out of the next Quarter’s Salary of each 
V'idow so making default, and the mone), if 
any thereby deducted, shall be distributed to 
and amongst the Poor of the Parish of Rich¬ 
mond; and the Minister of Trinity Chapel for 
the time being, shall recommend to the said 
Trustees such poor Persons as he shall think 
fit to receive such money, provided also that if 
any of the poor Widows shall not well behave 
herself, but shall neglect her duty, and be 


RICHMOND. 


DO 7 

***** 9 

. f • 

guilty of rioting, scolding, drunkenness, lewd¬ 
ness, or other vice or immorality, or shall 
suffer any such to be committed or practised in 
her room to the disturbance of the other 
Widows or any other person, or in case any 
dispute shall arise between them, then the said 
Trustees, or three of them, may hear the com¬ 
plaint of the parties, and shall determine con* 
cerning the same, and shall admonish the Widow 
so offending to reform ; but if such Widow so 
admonished shall not reform but be guilty of the 
same or like misbehaviour, then for such second 
offence the said Trustees shall cease to pay her 
her then next Quarter’s Salary, and the like for 
a third offence : and if such Widow shall not 
then reform, but continue incorrigible, then 
the said Trustees, or three of them, shall dis¬ 
charge and remove her out of such room, and 
she shall be struck off from such Charity and 
receive no benefit therefrom. Provided also 
that whenever any of the said three Trustees, 
Fowler Hickes, John Elsworth, and George 
Thompson Watkin or any after appointed Trus¬ 
tee or Trustees shall die, that then the remain, 
ing Trustees, or two of them, shall from time 
to time within ten days next after every such 
death happening, by writing under their hands. 


228 


THE HIST {my OF 

nominate and appoint one other proper Trustee 
living in the Town of Richmond aforesaid, in 
the place of him so dying, so as there shall 
always be kept up the number of four Trustees: 
and it is hereby also declared and agreed that it 
shall be lawful for the said Fowler Hickes, 
John Elsworth, and George Thompson Wat- 
kin, the Survivors and Survivor of them, and the 
heirs of such Survivor, and the said Francis 
Blackburne and the succeeding Hectors of 
Richmond, and the Trustees so hereafter to be 

« j i ' j ’ | ' (Mir ( I. 

appointed, or three of them, to make such fur¬ 
ther orders in w riting for the better manage¬ 
ment of the said poor Widows and Messuage 
thereby above appointed for them to rfside in, 
and for employing the Rents and profits of the 
residue of the said Premises, as they shall from 
time to time think right and convenient : and 
such orders, &c.. shall be binding. 

Tins Charity is kept up according to the 
Will of the Donor, and since the inclosure of 
the common Fields, an allotment of about three 
acres in the Low Fast Field, let at j€12. a 
year, has been given as a compensation for the 
said several parcels of land in the West Field. 


RICHMOND. 


OOQ 

Many of the observations upon these Cha¬ 
rities were written about 70 years ago, and as 
they would best explain the different lands sub¬ 
ject at that time to those payments, they have 
been inserted ; since the inclosure of the com¬ 
mon Fields, there has been so great a change 
in situation, and property has so very much 
varied, that it is now dilhcult to know what 
lands these Charities are attached to, and per¬ 
haps many of them have been lost by the al¬ 
teration. 

U 










THE VIEWS. 


The VIEWS about the Town are remark¬ 
able for having all the appendant beauties of 
wood and water in every direction, particularly 
the walk about the Castle, which, being lately 
repaired and made of a convenient breadth, is 
the general promenade of the Inhabitants in all 
weathers. It rises about 120 feet perpendicu¬ 
lar above the bed of the river, and presenting 
to the eye a tremendous precipice, makes those 
who are unaccustomed to the sight of a hilly 
country not very much at ease, thinking it dan¬ 
gerous to pass. The ground, on which the 
Castle stands, is elevated about fifty feet above 
the walk, and shelters it from the Northerly 
winds : at every step a new point of view arises 
which raises the Traveller’s expectation, and 
never have these expectations been disappoint¬ 
ed. The river below encompasses near half 
the Castle, and precipitating itself ftom the 
rocks, forms a picturesque natural cataract quite 



RICHMOND. 


23 ! 


across, bounded on one side by a bold project¬ 
ing rock covered with wood, on the other by 
the Castle-Mill, which is of great antiquity, 
almost coeval with the Castle itself. Some have 
thought Richmond in Surrey more preferable 
for situation, but the view there being of a 
different nature, consisting chiefly of works of 
art, Noblemen’s Seats, and Plantations around 
thfm, makes the Landscape milder and more 
artificial : here nature exhibits herself in 
mountainous scenery, marked with grandeur 
and sublimity. 

Descending lower down, we come to the 
CLINK BANK, where the river appears lost, 
winding in a beautiful manner below the hills. 
Through this bank is cut a most enchanting 
walk, and to the lovers of natural prospects, 
nothing can any where be more delightful. In 
the middle of this walk is a petrifying spring, 
which gushing out at about the height of ten 
feet, trickles down the rock, and creeping con¬ 
cealed under the walk, falls about sixty feet 
into the river. Here are to be seen pieces of 
moss, vegetables, and wood incrusted and pe¬ 
trified by the water in curious fantastic shapes. 
At the top of the bank the view appears in its 

U 2 


232 THE HISTORY OF 


best form, ami in point of situation it yields to 
very few places in the country, as possessing 
every ingredient of rural scenery. The cata¬ 
ract, the Castle, and the Town, backed by the 
high Moorlands now enclosed, cannot fail to 
strike the attention of every one as a fine situ¬ 
ation for building. 

Going a little to the East, we come to the 
respectable remains of the 

Hospital of St. Nicholas, 

** Where Pilgrims oft, and Strangers from afar 
“ Receiv’d that fare and consolation sweet, 

*• Which frequent toils require ; confession made 
“ And weary limbs refresh’d, they onward ivent 
“ Along the rugged paths to distant lands.” 

In the Pipe Holl of the 18th of Henry II. 
is an account of 10s. the value of five Seams of 
Bread Corn (sumrnis* frumenti) given by 


* Summa, a Seam of Corn, or eight bushels. To 
know the value of this grant, the price of corn in Lon¬ 
don in 14G3, a great many years after, was, Wheat 2s. a 
quarter, Barley Is. 10d., Pease 3s. 4d. and Oats Is. 2d. 
So that the value of one Shilling bonght at that time 
four bushels of Wheat, which makes a grant of 10s. 
a very considerable donation. 



RICHMOND. 


233 


Ralph de Glanvil'e to the sick in the Hospital 
of Richmond, which was that near this Town. 
As it was in the patronage of the King as par¬ 
cel of the Honour of Richmond, it may very jus¬ 
tly be ascribed to the piety of some of the Earls. 
It being very much decayed in the buildings, 
and the Revenues so greatly diminished as to oe 
able to maintain only one Chaplain for perform¬ 
ing the various duties of the Hospital, the King 
granted it in 1448 to William Ayscough, one of 
the Justices of his Bench, who had formerly 
been mister of it. He repaired or rather re- 
edified and endowed it as a second founder; also 
in augmentation of Divine Worship there, he 
founded a certain Chantry in the Chapel of the 
said Hospital dedicated to St. Nicholas, to be 
served by one perpetual Chaplain, therein to 
celebrate Mass every day for ever. Nicholas 
Kirby also gave an additional pension of Three 
Pounds to ihe same Chaplain, who was bound 
to say Mass daily in the Chapel of St. Edmund 
the King in Richmond, as well as in the 
Chapel of St. Nicholas, 

In this condition the Hospital continued till 
the dissolution, and had Revenues valued at 
£\3. 12s. a year, but having to pay a pension 
of 12s. a year, the price at that time of a (piac- 

U $ 


234 THE HISTORY OF 


and four bushels of corn, to the Anchoress in 
Richmond, a gift from John Earl of Richmond, 
and other out-payments, the Revenues were 
reduced to Ten Pounds, clear of all deductions. 
Jt early shared the fate of all the Religious 
Houses of small value, and w as surrendered 
the 26th of Henry VIII. by Richard Baldwin 
the then master. 

The Founder was buried with his wife, 
whom he survived many years, in the North 
Aisle of Bedale Church, under an Alabaster 
Monument, whereon is still remaining this partof 
the Inscription in Black Letter. ‘ 4 Hicjacet 
4i Gulielmus Ayscough miles, unus justiciari- 
44 orum domini regis de banco, qui obiit****** 
%i cujus anima per misericordiam domini in pace 
44 requiescat. Hie jacet*********** quse fuit 
44 uxor Gulie.mi Ayscough militis, quae obiit 
44 Anno Domini 1400, cujus animae propitietur 
44 Deus. Amen.” 

u Sis testis, Christe, quod non jacet hie lapis iste, 

u Corpus ut oruetur, sed spiritus ut menaoretur,” 

Hospitals were Houses for the relief of poor 
and infirm people, and for the reception and 
relief of Travellers, particularly Pilgrims, when 
other houses of accommodation were unknown. 
They were generally built by the road side, in 


RICHMOND. 


235 


Which were commonly two or three religious 
persons, one to be Master or Prior, and one 
or two to be Chaplains and Confessors ; to most 
of them Chapels were annexed ; the one be¬ 
longing to this Hospital still exists and is used 
as a stable. They were incorporated by Royal 
Patents, and made capable of gifts and grants 
in succession. 

These Monks were a branch of the Bene¬ 
dictines, but followed the rules of St. Austin, 
who was made Bishop of Hippo in 395. Their 
habit was a black cassoc with a white rocket 
over it, and over that a black cloak or hood ; 
they wore beards, and caps on their heads. 

The site of this Hospital and part of the lands, 
after they came into the possession of the crown, 
were sold to James Norton, and by the marriage 
of Mary, the daughter of Malager Norton, of 
St. Nicholas, Esq. with John Yorke of Gouth- 
waite Hall, in Nidderdale, Esq. about the year 
1658, they became the property of the latter 
family. Afterwards they were sold to the Black- 
burnes, who enjoyed them about one hundred 
years, and were within the last year disposed 
of to Lord Dundas of Aske. 

The remains of this Hospital are now in¬ 
habited, being fitted up as a Farm-House : the 


336 


THE HISTORY OF 


\ 


Balcony in front, along the top of which run* 
a parapet of ape n stone t r^t work, is still very 
p< rfecf, supported bj stone Pillars The old 
1 ell is still in the place, and the Gate-way 
from the road in toler ble repair. The ancient 
florht if sfep^ of easy ascent, leading to it, wag 
lately taken away. 





✓ i 


J 
















THE SWALE 



s*oaa* 


fin 

X HIS HI VER, th® cause of most of those 
natural beaut!#; which adorn the Town and 
Neighbourhood, cannot he passed by without 
giviug in some small degree a description of 
it. To accomplish this, it will be necessary 
to go up to its source, and following its 
winding stream, nuke some little mention of 
the buildings which adorn its banks, till it 
loses its name in the Eure at Mytou. 

The Swale, though not of any considerable 
size till increased in its course by several small 
rivulets, was held sacred by the Saxons : for 
soon after the introduction of Christianity into 
this Island, upwards of 10,000 men, besides 
women and children, were baptised in it at 
IIelperby by Paullnu?, Archbishop of York, 
and from this circumstance it was styled the 
JpjtpAN of England. It is al$o noted for 



238 


THE HISTORY OF 


giving its name to a large tract of country 
tailed Swaledale, through which it runs. 

This district formerly belonged to Walter 
he Gaunt, who marrying Matilda, daughter 
of Stephen, Earl of Richmond, had as a mar¬ 
riage portion Swaledale in liberum, even to 
the third heir, that is, quiet and free from all 
secular service, which may belong to the Lord 
of the Manor. Still it remained subject to 
services due to the King as supreme Lord ; on 
which account these four fees, though they 
paid no ward to the Earl of Richmond, yet 
were liable to a scutage to the King. IJis de¬ 
scendant Gi lbert de Gaunt being summoned 
in the 7th year of Edward I. to answer before 
John de Vallibus, one of his Majesty’s itiner¬ 
ant Justices, by what warrant he claimed to 
have Swaledale in liberum, Gilbert by his At¬ 
torney appeared and said “ That he claimed 
u FreeChacf, Free Warren, and Iniang- 
“ theof in all his demesne lands, the Assize 
“of Bread and Beer, and the taking of 
“Thieves in Swaledale.” And said, “That 
“ he and all his ancestors from time iramemo- 
“ rial always used these liberties without in¬ 
terruption.” These were looked upon as 
sufficient claims and allowed as such. In th« 


ItlCHMONB. 


239 


11th year of Edward all this property in 
capital Messuages, demesne lands, &c. was va¬ 
lued at 1 10 marks and a half a year. 

The rise of this river is near Wild-Boar 
Fell, on the borders of Westmoreland. I n this 
quarter there is nothing to attract the Travel¬ 
ler’s attention, the views being dreary, barren, 
and seemingly destitute of every idea of im¬ 
provement : but in the bowels of the earth, the 
valuable lead mines make up for every defi¬ 
ciency on the surface. These, in a local de¬ 
scription of the country, must be considered as 
an important feature ; nor can a better or 
shorter account be made of them, than has 
lately been given by an ingenious inhabitant of 
the place. 

The Earl of Pgmvret is the principal pro¬ 
prietor of ihe Sw \ led ale Mines, which are 
now leased to WHiiam Chay tor of Spennithorne, 
Esq. and Co. and Messrs. Alderson and Co. 
of London, and annua!’/ produce about 300Q 
tons. 

The Hurst Mines, belonging to William 
Paulet Esq n leased to Thomas Stapleton, 
of Kichmond, Lsq, the annual produce 400 
tons. 


*240 


THE HISTORY OF 

WiiitsondA t e Minis, held under the Grown 
by Knighton and Mcrlay, produce annually 
about 400 tons. 

The A ukf.nga ktht>a l e Menes dre par¬ 
ticularly deserving of attention from the very 
spirited and liberal manner in which they are 
conduced under the management of Frederic 
Hall, Esq. one of the principal propt n tors. 
Every assistance, that mechanism aud chemis¬ 
try coidd afford, has been employed ; and the 
narrow prejudices, which formerly prevailed, 
are now laid aside. The product is dbout 20C0 
tons annually. 

1 heue are some other concerns of little con¬ 
sequence, which may be reckoned at about 100 
tons a year ; and the whole may be supposed 
to employ about 2000 persons. 

To follow the river through this mountainous 
country might be interesting to a mineralogist, 
who can appreciate the wonderful works of 
nature though hidden n darkness ; to the Tra¬ 
veller, who only wishes for the variegated scenes 
of mountains, wood, and water, it can have 
but few charms. In passing therefore through 
the many small villages, inhabited by Miners, 
nothing occurs worth mentioning, till you ar. 


241 


RICHMOND. 

rive on the South side of the Swale, nearly op¬ 
posite Reetii. Here was formerly seated for 
several generations at Swale-IJall a family 
of great antiquity in these parts called Swale. 
The first was Aluked de Swale, Nephew 
and Chamberlain to Walter, de Gaunt, the 
first Lord of Swaledale, who granted in Fee 
about the latter end of the reign of William 
Rufus to his said Nephew the Manor of West 
Grunton lying on the river Swale. It is sup¬ 
posed, that from this River he took the surname 
of Swale, which his posterity afterwards as¬ 
sumed. The last of this family was Sir Solo¬ 
mon Swale, Bart, who described himself of 
Swale-Hail, in Swaledale, by the River Swaie. 
This person became unfortunate, and was sup¬ 
planted by a man who was a Clerk in the Ex¬ 
chequer Office : he, observing ihat this family 
held their Estate of the Crow'n, and had neg¬ 
lected to renew for many years, procured a 
grant of the Estate for himself. A great many 
Jaw-suits ensued, but to no oth^r effect, than to 
increase the misfortunes of the poor Baronet, 
who died a Prisoner in the Fleet. Il»s adver¬ 
sary had previously made away with himself. 
A Barouetage was given the family in if360, and 

X 


242 


THE HISTORY OF 


became extinct in the last century. The Hall 
is now the property of a Mr. Hutchinson. 

A curious Epitaph upon one of these Swales 
was found some years since in Easeby Church* 
and as it is worthy of observation, a better ac¬ 
count of it cannot be given than that which ap¬ 
peared in the Gentleman’s Magazine for April, 
17S0. In that valuable miscellany, the He¬ 
brew and Greek Inscription will be found for 
the learned reader, the Latin and other parts 
of it are as follow, with the Letter that was 
seut to Mr. Urban along with it: 

“ Sir , 

44 Being desirous to preserve m 
44 very singular literary curiosity , 1 cannot do 
44 it more effectually than by procuring a place 
44 for it in your valuable Repository of useful 
44 learning. The following Epitaph was found 
44 not long ago in the Parish Church of Easeby , 
44 a village situated on the banks of the River 
44 Swale near Richmond , in Yorkshire. The 
44 circumstances attending the discovery are not 
44 less curious than the thing itself In the 
44 Chancel of the Church there hung an old 
44 Wooden Frame , muck like the Frame of a 


RICHMOND. 


243 


u common oblong Country Cooking-Glass ; in- 
u deed precisely the same , substituting for the 
u 6r/«# Plate, a thin Plate of Wood. Upon 
* 4 Me dacfc of this Frame it had been customary, 
<{ Mwe immemorial, to cut the sacramental 
44 bread. One day, either from being loosened 
44 by age, or the loss of a peg, or some such 
44 accident, one of the sides of the Frame gave 
“way; in consequence of ivhich , the upper 
“ Plate of wood, having no longer any thing to 
44 keep it in its place , dropped out, and the 
44 Epitaph was discovered upon the lower board. 
44 It was very fairly zoritten, and not at all in- 
* 4 jured by time ; but since it has been exposed 
fc4 to the air, the Paper is rent in several places, 
44 The Minister of the Church (Anthony Tern- 
44 pie ) to whose zeal in behalf of a classical re * 
44 lique you owe its publication, ingeniously 
44 conjectures, that it must leave been designed to 
* 4 commemorate the virtues of a Friend to the 
Reformation , zchile it was yet in its infancy. 
“ This conjecture is abundantly confirmed by 
44 two lines in the Latin Epitaph, and by the 
44 extraordinary, and otherwise unaccount- 
44 able circumstance of its concealment. I he 

44 date will inform you , that it was written at 
44 a time when it was dangerous to propagate 

X 2 


244 THE HISTORY OF 


41 religious opinions hostile to the Church of 
4; Rome. The icrilcr of the Epitaph no doubt 
'• saw, even at the dawn of the Reformation, 
'* that it mast eventually dispel that superstition, 
4i which had so long involved the world in dark - 
^ ness, and that Posterity would indisputably 
44 pay so bright a character that tribute of jus. 
44 tice, which was enviously denied to him by 
44 the blindness and bigotry of his ozen times. 
44 1 wQiitdfurther remark, that the elegance of 
44 this Epitaph affords a striking proof that 
44 Learning, even in the early period of the reign 
44 of Henry VIII. was by no means so little 
44 cultivated or so confined , as has sometimes 
44 been supposed; the versification in all the 
<4 four languages being such as would certainly 
4< not discredit a much more recent composition. 
44 No particulars are now known of the subject 
44 of the Epitaph. His family teas a very an - 
t( cient one, the Swales, of Swale. Ilall, in 
44 Swaledale ; and the last revresentative of it, 

44 Sir Solomon Swale, died some years ago in 
44 great poverty.” 

The Hebrew may be thus translated : 

Approach ! weep ! ye men 

Who labour upon the earth. 



RICHMOND. 24-5 

The £00<l Man is dead, who detested falsehoods, 
And who loved Justice ; 

Who was liberal and a refuge to the I*oor. 

The afflicted spoke of him, and thus 
Cried in the Streets ; ah! be thou, 

Omerciful Man, also a blessed soul. 

C( An Epitaph pon the death of Richard 
Swale, Gentleman, who departed the 23d. 
of April, 1538, after that he had lyved foure¬ 
score and sixe yeares, one month, and sixtene 
days. 99 Here is placed the Hebrew Inscription 
of eight verses, a Translation of which has bee n 
given just before, and after that, is another ol 
Greek containing twelve lines. The Latin and 
English are thus, with the old way of Spel¬ 
ling- 

Morte Richardus abit Swalus generosus ah ortu, 
Jure tamen virtus pergenerosa manet. 

Non illi limis oculis aspecta propinqui 
Commoda, non van® sollicitudo rei. 

Ille inopes fratres opibusque operaque juvabat, 

Unde bonum germen clarior orta tides. 

Cui sirnul, erroris falsi caliginc pulsa, 

Aurea lux veri numinis orta fuit. 

Unde Deo plena? voces in limine mortis, 

Et facta ad vitam plurima vota uovain. 

Qualis Apolline® canfus, cum fata propinquant, 
Siceo Maeandnlittore fertur avis. 


246 THE HISTORY OF 


O Dens, ut Swalus vixit, vitaraque reliquit* 

Sic mi da semper vivere, sicque mori. 

What nature sowes, that Death shall reape at last. 
And mortal men are subject to the grave, 

For flesh is grasse, his glorie but a blast, 

The time will come, when Death his due must hare. 
Both witt and welth, yea strength and all be vayne, 
Then haste to ly ve, and die to lyve agane. 

Lo Richard Swale, who here intombed lyes. 

In life sometime a lantern to the rest, 

A Gentleman both gentle, just, and wise, 

In Christian Trueth as zealouse as the best. 

By Death at last is lodged in the dust, 

Whose soule enjoyes a portion with the just. 

Let his good deedes to us that now do lyve. 

And closed are within this wretched vayle, 

So meete and fit, and dailie paterne gyve, 

To flee and shunne all vice with open sayle, 

That by like course, and almes to the poore, 

Find ope wee maye at last the heavenlie doore. 

This curious piece of antiquity is now in the 
hands of the present much respected Vicar ? 
and it is intended that it shall go along with the 
Vicarage as an heir-loom. 


A little lower down on the North side is 
placed MAR KICK PRIORY, a Benedictine 
Nunnery, founded here either in the latter end 
of the reign of Stephen, or beginning of tha 


RICHMOND. 


247 


of Henry II. by Roger de Aske, a man of 
great note in former days, and Lord of the 
Manor, which with Aske was valued in the 11th 
year of Edward If. at ^40. 10s. a year, a 
very great sum in those days* It was dedicated 
to the Virgin Mary according to Dugdale, but 
from the Manuscripts in the Bodleian Library 
to St. Andrew the Saint of the Parish Church. 
The Hospital of Rerecross (so named from the 
Cross called Rerecross being placed near it, 
formerly a boundary between England and 
Scotland) or the Spittal upon Stainmore was 
given to it by Ralph, son of Radulphus Lord 
of Moulton, and John, Earl of Richmond gave 
to it the close near the Hospital. The Nuns of 
Marrick used to pay the Chaplain of it a yearly 
pension of 13s. 4d. for doing duty, founded 
by Conan Earl of Richmond. This flospital 
continued part of their possessions till the disso¬ 
lution, and was granted the 7th of Edward VI. 
to William Bucton and Roger Marshall. 

This Priory had the King’s licence to con¬ 
tinue after the dissolution of the small houses. 
The yearly Revenues were rated by'''peed at 
£61 18s. 9d. ; but having to give and dis¬ 
tribute to the Poor at the supper of the Lord, 
bread to the value of 16s. 8J. and in money 15s. 


THE HISTORY OP 


348 

and aim* to the mendicants on the day of the 

* * ‘ * * . 4 

obit of iioger <ie Aske to the amount of lis. 6d. 
with various other pensions, &c all these re- 
duced their income to £ 4$ 18s. 2d .* 

It was surrendered by Christabella Cowper 
the Prioress and 16 Nuns November 17, 1540, 
the 31st of Henry VIU. Part of the 
Premises was granted soon after to John Banis- 
ter; the site and remainder were given the 
37th of Henry VIII. to John Uvedale. The 
pensions and annuities assigned to the Prioresi 
and Nuns by this John Uvedale and Leonard 
Beckwith, the Commissioners appointed by the 
King, were as fol low. To Christabella Cowper, 
jate Prioress, 100s. To the following Nuns, 
Dame Margery Conyers, 66s. Sd. ; Margaret 
Lovechild, 40s ; Johanna Norris, 53s. 4d. 
Elizabeth Dalton, 40s.; Eleanor Maxwell, 40s # ; 
Johanna Barningham, 40s. ; Johanna Marton, 
20s ; Grace llotherforde, 26s. 8d ; Eliza¬ 
beth Hobinson, 26s. 8d.; Ann Ledman, 26s. 8d.; 
and Elizabeth Singleton 20s. From these 

* The great contradiction in the valuation of Abbey 
Lands made by different persons, arises from this cir¬ 
cumstance : some reckoned the whole of their rental 
without making any abatement for out payments ; 
•thers, after deducting ttiem, gave the clear profit. 




RICHMOND. 


249 


names it appears, that the Nuns on entering the 
Convent, frequently laid aside their Surnames, 
and took their religious ones from the places of 
their birth. 

Thf remains of the Priory with a good Es¬ 
tate, were many years in the possession of the 
Blackburne family, but a want of ceconomy and 
a numerous offspring obliged the owner to sell 
them. They are now with part of the Estate 
in the hands of James Pigot luce, Esq. The 
Chapel is still left, and used as the Parish 
Church, 

On the South side of the Swale a little beneath 
Marrick, was the small PRIORY of ELLER- 
TON, so called from the Alder Trees tha* 
grew there. This was a House of White 
Cloathed or Cistercian Nuns, supposed to have 
been founded by Warnerus, Sewer or Chief 
Steward to the Earl of Richmond, or by his 
son Wymerus in the time of Henry II. 
Another founder has been given to it, namely 
John Harden, who lived in the reign of Ei>- 
vard III. or Richard 11 ; its origin must 
be carried up higher than this, as mention ie 
made of it in the inquest taken under Edward I. 
In the 26th of Henry VIII. this Priory was 


250 


THE HISTORY OF 


surrendered by Johanna the last Prioress, and 
was valued at £ 15 . 10s. 6d. clear rental. The 
Abbey of Eggleston paid «s£3. 6s 8d. to it for 
a Chaplain to pray at the Chantry founded by 
Thomas Cleaseby, for his own soul and those 
ofhis heirs. The site of this Priory after the 
dissolution was said to have been given the 33d 
of Henry VIII. to John Aske, but there 
was a mistake in confounding this House with 
that of Ellerton on Spalding-Moor, upon the 
River Derwent. The original Charter of found¬ 
ation was in 1722, in the possession of Henry 
Drax, then Lord of the Manor and Owner, ia 
whose family the premises have continued ever 
since. 

There is nothing particular to attract the 
attention, but the grand mountainous scenes of 
nature, which, though composed of the same 
materials, are surprisingly diversified and va¬ 
riegated, till passing over the NEW BRIDGE, 
highly ornamental to the surrounding scenery, 

tl e skirts of the Parish of Richmond be entered 

% 

upon a little lower down. Here the lofty 
rugged scar of WHLTCL1FFE strikes the eye, 
as if rearing itself up to the very clouds, and 
nature exhibits her bold features clad in the 


RICHMOND. 


251 


wildest attire. On casting the eye around, (he 
attention is particularly arrested by a stone on 
the top of the hill, which seems as a mark 
of former days. When the summit of the diffi¬ 
cult ascent is gained, an inscription appears, 
which records the wonderful escape of one Wil- 
lAnce, who was once hunting upon these high 
grounds. The horse on which he rode, being 
young and high spirited, ran away with him 
and leaped down the precipice, when, to the 
great surprise of his companions, he was taken 
up alive, and lived many years after, having 
received no other injury than that of a broken 
leg* which was soon after amputated. To hand 
down to posterity so miraculous an escape, three 
stones are placed at the three different bounds, 
which the horse made, and on two of them are 
these inscriptions. u 1606...Hear us. Glory 
tc be to our merciful God, who miraculously 
u preserved me from the danger so great, 'this 
Ci stone renewed 1734.” 46 The above inscrip- 

u tion was renewed in the year 1774 by the 
66 Corporation of Richmond, in the Mayoralty 

of Mr Edmund Lonsdale.” 

Proceeding in the same direction, and fol¬ 
lowing the course of the River overshadowed 


252 THE HISTORY OF 

with Trees, the next place we meet with is th# 
ROUND HOW, which rising in a conical 
form, is one of the most wonderful productions 
of nature. This jock seems to have started 
from the adjoining cliff, and great beyond con¬ 
ception must have been the crash that ensued, 
when this rent occurred. It his left a large chasm 
Jnthe place from whence it had issued, but in so 
regular a manner as if cut out by the hand of 
man. The whole is clothed with verdure; trees 
of many species growing upon it, intermixed with 
curious plants. There are near it some old work¬ 
ings of copper mines, but the small quantity of 
metal that was dug out, did not sufficiently re¬ 
munerate the adventurers for the great expence 
in working ; they have therefore for some time 
been discontinued. The view of this hill from 
the West Field on the opposite side of the river, 
is reckoned the best. From that station yon 
take in the whole upon a larger scale, and, 
among the variety of objects farther down, a 
handsome Tewt-R obtrudes itself, situated upon 
an eminence with a Summer House near it, and 
where the River by a sudden winding seems to 
vanish under ground* These are the Fb asure- 
C rounds belonging to the Yo a * e family, culled 
the GREEN, and are well worthy of the ia« 


RICHMOND. 


253 


spection of (he Traveller, on account of the 
beauty of the situation, and the great improve¬ 
ments received from art. To the North of this 
Tower is a neat Gothic Buildiug used as a Me¬ 
nagerie, and on the right is seen the River 
flowing under a noble hanging wood, which, ex¬ 
tending towards th<3 left, forms a fine Amphi¬ 
theatre, terminated by the Town and the ruins 
of the Castle. Several other parts are laid out 
with great taste and elegance. This Estate and 
others in the neighbourhood, belonging to this 
family, were purchased about the year 1673 by 
Mary, Widow of John Yorke, Fsq. and 
daughter of Malager Norton, of St. Nicho¬ 
las, Esq. He dying young left her a Widow, and 
she wishing to reside among her own acquaint¬ 
ance, built the present Mansion on her newly 
acquired lands. The Old Green Mills were 
taken down and the Gardens and Stables re¬ 
moved from near the River to their present si- 
uation on the Tenter Banks by the late John 
Yorke, whom the friends of humanity mustever 
deplore. His largely cultivated mind, well 
stored with ancient learning, and expanded by 
a long residence in foreign countries, was open 
to every liberal idea ; and the tale of distress, 
or any public improvement ever met his atten- 

Y 


254 THE HISTORY OF 


five ear. The poor have lost in him their most 
bountiful benefactor, and his memory will long 
be cherished by a numerous and respectable ac¬ 
quaintance, who will never forget the facetious 
companion at his hospitable board. His hu¬ 
mility of mind extended even to the grave, and 
his last bequest was, to be interred, not among 
his own ancestors in the family vault at Rich¬ 
mond, but in the most private manner, and 
without the least appearance of parade in Iluds- 
well Church-yard, where a plain stone with a 
simple inscription* covers his much lamented 
remains : requiescant in pace. 

o ' .i j ' / t .1 

From a pleasant walk by the water side in 
the Yorke grounds you get a view of the 
BRIDGE, a strong, useful, fabric, of sufficient 
height and strength to repel the violent and 
sudden inundations, which rushing from the 
surrounding hills, destroy every thing that op¬ 
poses them. It was built about 25 years ago at 
the joint expence of the County and the Cor- 


* In Memory of John Yorke, Esq. of the Green, 
Richmond, and of Be vverl ey Hall In the West-Riding of 
Yorkshire; eldest son of Thomas and Abigail Yorke 
formerly ofHelperby, who died January 29, 1813, aged 
78 years.,..R. I. P. 



RICHMOND. 


255 


poration in a plain, neat, subsstantial manner, 
and is about 192 feet long and 27 broad, con¬ 
sisting of three arches. 

The Hirer, divided by small islands, some 
having a surface of naked pebbles and others 
covered with shrubs and verdure, winds ils 
serpentine way in a precipitous manner round 
the Castle and part of the Town, till it comes 
opposite the remains of ST. MAH1TNS, a 
Priory standing on the southern bank of the 
Hiver about a mile East of Richmond. This 
House was founded about the year 1100 by 
Whyomau* Lord of Aske+, and Sewer or 

• ' >/l 

* See Atxendix, No. 10. 

f Before the Con juest Tor an Englisman had the 
Manor of Aske ; afterwards, Whyomar obtained it 
from his Kinsman the first Alan of Richmond, where 
this family for more than 500 years flourished in many 
branches under the name of Aske. The male heir fail¬ 
ing, Elizabeth, daughter, and one of the heiresses of 
Roger de Aske, about the year 1575, transferred by 
marriage this place to Richard de Bowes of the Streat- 
j.am family in the County of Durham. Whyomar was 
Sewer to Earl Alan, and so was his son Warnerus; yet 
they by no means held their lands by the office of Sewer. 
There were many Sewers after Warner ; at the first, one 
Radulphus, afterwards Scolland Lord of Bedale dis- 

Y 2 



256 THE HISTORY OF 


Chief Steward to the Earl of Richmond, who, 
for his own salvation, and that of his heirs, 
gave the Chapel of St. Martin with some lands 
(hereabout to God and the Abbey of St. Mary 
near the Walls of the City of York; where¬ 
upon a Cell of 9 or 10 Benedictine Monks 
from that Monastery was fixed here under the 
care of John de Poppleton the first Prior ; and 
Pope Eugenius the Third, in the year 1146, 
and the 8th of his Pontificate, confirmed it. 
This donation was followed by the benefactions 
of Roaldus'l, grandson of Alan, Constable of 

charged that office under the third Alan, the posterity of 
YVhyomar retaining in the mean time their posses¬ 
sions. 

The Askes of Acghton, in the East-Riding, were a 
branch of this family, for Richard de Aske, a second 
son, in the year 1365 founded a Chantry at Ilowden, 
and married a Sister of Roger Hay, of Aughton, by 
whom he had a son, John Aske, ofOusthorp; whose 
son John, by the failure of heirs male in the Hay 
family, obtained their lands, and took the name of 
Aske, of Aughton, where it continued till the time of 
Charles I. Of this branch was the Robert Aske, 
Commander of the army in the Holy Pilgrimage of 
Grace, in the time of Henry YIII. and who was hanged 
for that offence at Clifford’s Tower, York, in the 
year 1537. 

X See Appendix, No. 11. 




RICHMOND. 


257 


Richmond Castle, who gave to it the service 
and homage of divers persons in Hudswell, with 
the lands on which they were settled. Stew 
phen Earl of Richmond gave to it two sheaves 
of corn growing upon his demesnes in VVitton, 
Moulton, Catterick, and Forcett, and con¬ 
firmed to it the Church of Catterick given by 
Alan Rufus. On Septembers, 1220, Walter 
Grey Archbishop of York, with the consent of 
his Chapter and of William de Rotberfield 
Archdeacon of Richmond, granted and appro¬ 
priated this Church of Catterick to the use of 
the Abbot and Convent of St. Mary near York,' 
except 16 marks assigned to the use of the 
vicar. Alan ill. Earl of Richmond, gave to 
the Abbot and Convent of St. Mary near York, 
and to the Prior of St. Martin’s, the vil age o 
Gilmunby near Bowes, with Common of Pas¬ 
ture there, in exchange for a certain wood, 
afterwards called Erle Orchard, opposite 
the Castle of Richmond, situated on the South 
side of the River Swale, the Prior reserving 
the tUhes, valued then at Tenpenoe a >ear. 

The Chapel of the Castle at Richmond, and 
the tithes of the Castle Garden, and of the 
Castle-Mill* were given it by Earl Conan. 

* See Appendix, No.. 12, 

Y 3 




258 


THE HISTOKY OF 


Peter Capeilt Parson of the Church of Rich¬ 
mond gave it yearly, by way of pension from 
the Church of Richmond, 10s. or Twenty 
Pounds of Wax to burn at the High Altar; a 
moiety to be paid at the Feast of St. Martin in 
the Winter, and a moiety at Pentecost: He at 
the same time gave to the Church of St. Mary 
at York Five Pounds yearly, to be paid at 
the same times, which Five Pounds now belong 
to Trinity College, Cambridge. Besides, on 
the three principal Festivals of the year, namely, 
the Birth of our Lord, the Passover, and Pen¬ 
tecost, he gave to the monks of the said Ab¬ 
bey of St. Mary, all the offerings which they 
might receive from the Chapel of the Castle, 
if the Earl or Constable should be there. 

The HERMITAGE or CHAPEL of ST. 
THOMAS, of Bordel-bank, now Billy-bank, 
the tithes of lamb, wool, aud hay growing there¬ 
upon, and the oblations of the Church of St. 
Martin and of the Chapel of Bordelby, were 
given by the Abbey of St. Mary at York to 
this Priory, on account of their leprous Breth¬ 
ren. Many others bestowed upon them tithes* *, 

f See Appendix, No. 13. 

* From these grants it appears, that though every 
nan was obliged to pay Tithes in general, yet they were 



RICHMOND. 359 

rents, lands, and other marks of their bounty 
and devotion. 

At the dissolution in 1528, it was surren¬ 
dered by John Matthew the last Prior, and nine 
Monks. The clear rental was valued at .s£43. 
16s. gd. after paying 21s. to the Anchoress a fc 
Richmond, to Thomas Wray their Seneschal 
26s. 8d., to John Wilkinson the bailiff and 
receiver of their rents 26a 8d. and other de¬ 
mands against it. 

It was granted in the 4th year of Ho¬ 
ward VI. to Edward Lord Clinton, Lord 
High Admiral of England, who by the grant 
was obliged to allow Five Pounds a year for 
the finding a Priest to do duty in the churches 
of St. Martin and Monkey, though no vil¬ 
lage of the name of Monkby is now known in 
Richmondshire. He that same year sold it to 
William Pepper, of St. Martin’s, Esq. and to 


considered as personal property, and he might give them 
to what Priests or places he pieased. But when Dio¬ 
ceses were divided into Parishes, and Churches began to 
be built in each of them by the Lord for the use of his 
servants and tenants, the Tithes of each Parish were 
allotted to its own particular Parson, at first by common 
consent or the appointment of Lords of Manors, and 
afterwards by the written law of the land. 



260 THE HISTORY OF 

Cuthbert and William Walker of Richroond.- 
The descendant of William Pepper have sold 
at various time's their large share to several 
persons, and it is now in the possession of the 
Reverend J. Theakstone, Christopher Clark¬ 
son, Esq. the Reverend Francis Blackburne, 
and others. Cuthbert and William Walker 
bequeathed their lot to the Hospital ofSt. John 
the Baptist, at Kirby Ivavensworth, founded in 
1556 by John Dakyn, L. L. D. Rector ot that 
place, which the Hospital enjoys at this day. 

The Monks of this Honse were those who 
followed the rules of St. Benedict, who was 
born at Nursia, in the Dukedom of Spoletto 
in Italy, about the year 480, and died in 543. 
Their habit was a black loose coat, or gown of 
stuff reaching down to their heels, with a cowl 
or hood of the same and a scapulary ; and under 
that another white habit as large as the former 
made of flannel, and boots on their legs when 
they went abroad. From the colour of their 
outward dress, they were generally called black 
Monks. This rule was introduced into Eng¬ 
land in King Edgar’s time, but never perfectly 
observed till after the Conquest. Of this or¬ 
der were most of the richest Abbies in England, 
and all our Cathedral Priories, except Carlisle: 


RICHMOND. 


201 


there were two of them in Yorkshire, which 
were mitred Abbies ; some Nuns also were of 
this order. 

Very little remains of this Priory, except 
the walls of the Chapel, a Tower, and some 
other fragments of buildings, which are gradu* 
ally mouldering away, and so disunited, that 
there is no forming a conjecture, with any de¬ 
gree of probability, of their particular uses, or 
in what form it has been built. . 

O.v the opposite side of the river, a little 
lower down, at the extremity of a beautiful 
meadow, are the remains of the Scot’s-Dike*, 
a high raised bank of earth, with a trench 
running parallel to it, and without walls or 
other materials to support the sides; a boundary 
between the Britons and Piets, before the en» 
trance of the Romans. It appears from the 
foundations of the walls which were built by 
Adrian and Severus being cut through it, that 
it is of greater antiquity thau either of them. 
This mound enters from Scotland at a place 
called Wheel rELL, between the Rivers North 
Tyne and Read, and cutting the Roman Road 


* Gale’s Lettebs. 




262 


THE HISTORY OF 


at Busy-Gap, soon after crosses South Tyne, 
and falls in with the River Allen ; the banks of 
which being very steep, answer the end for 
which such a trench was made. Soon after it 
appears again at a place called Sporn-Gate 
Gross, where the mound is very conspicuous, 
and is called Scot’s-Nick, There it enters the 
County of Durham, and points towards the 
head of the River Tees, which is the course of 
it to Winstone. Crossing the Tees here, this 
stupendous work stretches by Stanwick over 
the Watling.Street on Gatherly-Moor, and 
coming this way through Whitefield Pasture, 
where it appears in an almost perfect state, 
passes the Swale at Hind Wath, in Low Bank 
House Ing. Going up St. Martin’s Pasture, 
it extends by Sandbeck, over Hudswell-Moor, 
and probably much further into Yorkshire, if 
not quite through it. 

As G atiierlty.Moor has been now men¬ 
tioned, it will not be amiss to notice here two 
curious specimens of supposed Magical Ta¬ 
bles, that were found there, in a tumulus near 
Watling Street, by William Hawksworth, Esq. 
Each of the Tables is quadrangular, with seve. 
ral hieroglyphical marks and au inscription on 


RICHMOND. 


263 


©ne side, and on the other are figures set in 
squares, and numbered each way in an irregular 
but magical manner from 1 to 81. An account 
of these Tables having been sent in 1789 to John 
E. Brooke, Esq. of Somerset Herald’s Office, 
he made the following extracts from the Books 
belonging to that Office. It appears from a 
Pedigree entered in the Herald’s Office, at the 
time of the visitation of the County of York in 
1 575 by William Flower, Esq. Norroy King 
at A rms and Robert Glover, Somerset Herald, 
that these Magical Tables relate to the family 
of Philip of Brignall, in Richmondshire ; of 
which James Phillip, of Brignall was living 
there, and entered his Pedigree, which shews 
that he had five Sons, John his eldest, Arthur, 
Henry, Christopher, and Thomas, all of them 
but Henry mentioned in the Tables. That the 
said James was second son of Henry Phillip of 
Brignall, by Agnes Aslabyhis wife, and had an 
elder Brother Charles, who had two Sons John 
and Cuthberl. As James is styled of Brignall, 
though the younger Brother of Charles, it is 
likely that he had by some means obtained the 
Estate from him, which occasioned those curses 
denounced in the Tables, and which were pro¬ 
bably made by John, the Son of Charles on that 


•404 THE HISTORY OF 


account ; for one of them has I. Phillip under 
the figures. They may be read thus. 

THE FIRST TABLE. 

“ I do make this, that. James Phillip, John 
Phillip liis Son, Christopher Philljp and 
Thomas Phillip his Sons, shall flee Richmond- 
shire, and nothing prosper with any of them in 
Richniondshire~ ” 

THE SECOND TABLE. 

I did make this, that the Father James 
Phillip, John Phillip, Arthur Phillip, 
and all the issue of them, shall come presently 
to utter Beggary, and nothing joy or prosper 
with them in Uichmondshire. 

Signed, T. PHILLIP.” 

a Henry, the third Son of James, as men¬ 
tioned in the Pedigree, is not included in these 
denunciations, being probably dead at the time 
his cousin John made them. James the Father 
was living at Brigoall in 1561, having that year 
a grant of coat armour by William Flower? 
Norroy King at Arms, viz. azure, three Fal¬ 
cons argent, beaked and belled or ; crest, on a 
wreath a demi horse rampant, holding in his 
mouth a broken spear, broken in two. All ar¬ 
gent.” 


RICHMOND. 


265 


i£ Tiie Family of Phillip has been some time 
extinct, and the Estate now ( 178&) belongs to 
Sir John Eden, Bart. In the Pedigree of the 
Jate Sir Thomas Robinson, of Rookby, Bart, 
printed in the Baronetage, Agnes, the eldest 
daughter of James P hillip, is called an heiress, 
and the Family of Robinson in her right has 
quartered the Arms of Phillip, if she was. The 
anathema pronounced against her Brothers had 
full effect, as they and all their children must 
soon after the making of these Magical Tables 
by John have died issueless.” 

The walk is now continued by the side of the 
River, till it reaches the respectable looking 
ruins of 

ST. AGATHA’S ABBEY, 

li Which, when deck’d with all its Spires, 

* i Serv’d but to feed some pamper’d Abbot’s pride, 

<< And aweth’ uulett r’d vulgar.” 

These venerable remains cannot fail to 
Strike the mind with awe on contemplating the 
munificence and piety of our forefathers, and 
awaken sentiments of regret, that this stately 
building was not permitted any longer to orna¬ 
ment the country. This House is often called 

55 


266 


THE HISTORY OF 


EASEBY ABBEY, owing to its situation near 
the small village of that name, by which it i 8 
now most generally known. It was founded 
about the year 1152 by Roaldus, Constable of 
Richmond Castle, and dedicated to St. Agatha, 
who was born in Sicily, and died about the 
year 253. No idea of local mortification seems 
to have entered into the founder’s views, as the 
place which he has chosen, is pleasantly situated 
near the river, and sheltered from every cold 
blast; and where health, fertility of soil, and 
pleasing prospects without the walls have been 
in a great degree consulted. Roger de Mow¬ 
bray, Alan Bygod and many others were great 
Benefactors, whose acts were confirmed by 
Edward III. It was inhabited by Canons of 
the Prsemonstratensian order, or Monks of 
Praemonstre in Picardy. They were also called 
V T hite Canons from their habit, which was a 
■white cassoc with a rocket over it, a long 
white cloak and white cap. This order, which 
lived according to the rule of St. Austin, was 
reformed by St. Norbert, afterwards Bishop of 
Madgeburg, who set up this regulation about 
the year 1120 at Praemonstratum, in the Diocese 
of Laon, in Picardy. The severe laws which 
he made, did not long survive their austere 
founder. The fame of this order spread through- 


RICHMOND. 


267 

out Europe with such amazing rapidity, that in 
a short space of time it was as remarkable for 
its opulence, as it had bem at its foundation 
for its pover:y. This order of Monks found its 
way into England soon ufter 1 140, iu the reign 
of Stephen. Their first Monastery was built 
at Newhouse, in Lincolnshire, by Peter de 
Saulia, and dedicated to St. Martial. 

This A bbey contained at the dissolution about 
17 Canons, and was surrendered by liobei^ 
the last Abbot. A Commission having been 
granted the 26th of Henry VUi. directed to 
William Knight, Archdeacon of Richmond, 
afterwards Bishop of Bath and Wells, John 
Dikyn, Clerk, and others, to enquire into the 
value of all the Demesnes, Manors, Lands, 
and Tenements belonging to the Churches, 
Convents, Monasteries, and Hospitals within 
the Archdeaconry of Richmond, it was found, 
that the Abbey of St. Agatha possessed tithes 
and lands in divers villages to the amount of 
^1S8. 16s. 2d. a year, but that this sum was 
liable to great deductions, which reduced their 
income very much. Fhey had to pay out of it 
various fines and wards to the heirs of Fitz- 
Hugh aud Scrope, and to the Castie of Rich- 
mood ; certain pensions to the parson of W ens- 


288 


THE HISTORY OP 


ley, for praying for the soul of Richard le 
Scrope ; to the Parson of Melsonby for praying 
at the Altar* of the Holy Trinity, for the soul 
of Maister Alan of Melsonby, and to many 
other Chaplains in different Chu relies. They 
were bound by various grants, to distribute 
once a week to five poor and indigent persons* 
for the soul of John Ilomaiue, Archdeacon of 
Richmond, as much meat and drink as came to 
65s. 1 Id. a year, and a like alms of the value of 
15s. a year to one poor person every day, for 
the soul of the aforesaid John ; to give to ten 
poor persons on the day of his obit one rneal of 
the value of 10d., and to divers Chaplains on 
the day of his obit 10s. Also they were bound 
ro spend 26s. 8d. in giving one loaf of bread 
called payselo fee, one flaggon of ale, and on* 
mess of food to one Pauper every day, from the 
Feast of All-Souls to the Feast of the Circum¬ 
cision, according to an ancient custom of Reli¬ 
gion ; to give to the value of £4 . in com, and 
red and white salted Fish to every poor and in¬ 
digent person on the day of St. Agatha, from 

* This was a Chantry annexed to the South side of the 
Chancel, which has been long since demolished. There 
was a Convent of Benedictine Nuns here, founded by 
King Henry IC granted to the Archbishop of York in 
exchange for other lands. 



RICHMOND. 


m) 

in ancient custom of Religion; and to give and 
distribute to the poor a similar elms according 
to an old custom and precept of religion at the 
supper of the Lord, and the two following 
days. The whole of these fines, wards, alms, 
and out-payments amounted to 18s. 5d. 

so that their clear rental was <j£lll. 17s. 9d. 

The site was granted the 4th and 5th of Phi¬ 
lip and M A ivy to Ralph Gower, who being at¬ 
tainted of High Treason, it was sold the 14th 
of Elizabeth to John Stanhope. It now with 
a great part of its possessions belongs to Cuth- 
bert Johnson, Esq. 

Henry Lord Scrope bad the patronage of 
this Abbey in the 10th year of Edward 1 11. 
This Henry was in the beginning of the 
reign of Edward If. a Baron of the Exche. 
quer, and made a Lord of Parliament, and dy¬ 
ing was buried here according to his will. 

The patronage afterwards vested in lus son 
William, who, dying without issue, bequeathed 
it to his Brother Richard, Lord High Chancel¬ 
lor to Richard it who gave them the Manor 
of Brompton valued at 3s, 4d. a year. 

In tiie discharge of his ouice of v/h iiioeilo?, 
history makes mention f>! teis resolute and coir- 
ffcientious behaviour on the foliowing-ocuisHa; 


270 


THE HISTORY OF 


King Richard had made a very considerable 
and improper grant to one of his favourites 
daring his minority (being only 17 years ot 
age) and when he was under the care of Go¬ 
vernors appointed by Parliament; to this i he 
Chancellor refused to fix the seal, alledging the 
King’s youth and inexperience ; Richard being 
enraged at the refusal, and spurred on by Hat- 
terers, sent for the seal, which Scrope refused 
to deliver up, as holding it not of the King, but 
of the Parliament; at which the King being 
farther incensed, went to him, and required his 
obedience; whereupon the Chancellor delivered 
up the Seals, declaring, that he would bear him 
true allegiance as a loyal subject, but would no 
longer serve him in any public capacity. Upon 
this, Richard retired into the country, and 
spent the remainder of his days in acts of piety ; 
Remarried Blanch, daughter to Michael de la 
Pole, who brought him three sons, William, 
Roger, and Stephen. William was created by 
Richard II. Earl of Wiltshire, but was after¬ 
wards beheaded by Henry IV, ; Richard how¬ 
ever lived, and though not restored to his of¬ 
fice of Chancellor, was made Treasurer to the 
King, and died in honour. 

Hi bought of the King the three daughters. 


RICHMOND. 


271 


CO.heiresses of the Lord ripetote* ; the eldest 
was married to Koger hi.4 second son ; th 3 se¬ 
cond daughter to William liis eldest, by whom 
she had no issue ; she afterwards married one 
Wentworth, by whom she bad children, and 
carried part of the inheritance to that family. 
Stephen, the third son, married the youngest 
daughter, who brought him children. 

Lela xi) says, *• that he likewise bought of 
the Ring, Margaret the daughter and heiress 
general of Sir Anthony St. Quintin, owner of 
llornby Castle, and was content that one Coo- 
n tEits, who received his education in his house¬ 
hold according to the fashion of the age, should 

* In the Feudal Laws, there was a right, which be¬ 
longed to the King, of having the custody of the Goods 
and Eslates of all Minors, who held of the Crown by 
Knight’s service, and of applying the Revenues thereof 
to his own use, except what was necessary for the Mi¬ 
nor’s maintenance till the age of 21; and then they 
could not marry without the Royal consent. Therefore 
to obtain this consent, a Tax was paid according to the 
value of the lands ; This was a beneficial perquisite of 
tenure, and was extended so far, that the English 
Barons, after the Norman fashion, took upon them¬ 
selves not only the absolute marriage of females, but of 
males :oo, which at length became one of the great feudal 
grievances, and was taken away by the Statute of the 
l2th of Charles II. 




272 


the history op 


ha vp the preferment of this ward ; so he by thi* 
means got Hornby Castle, which was but a 
mean place, till William Conyers, the first Lord 
of that name, made great improvements upon 

a large scale ” 

This celebrated antiqrary further observes 
•n his itinerary, 4,4 That St. Agatha’s Abbey 
of White Canons, on the banks of the Swale, 
a little beneath St. Martins, was founded 
by Lord Scrope.” The real fact is sup¬ 
posed to be, that Lord Scrope, having in¬ 
herited the possessions of Roaldus, made con¬ 
siderable additions to Roald’s foundation, but 
was not himself the original founder. Jn the 
16th of Richard II. we find a Royal Licence 
to Richard le Scrope of Bolton*, to bestow 
upon the Abbey of St. Agatha an annual rent of 
j£I50 out of his Lordships of Brignall, C »ld- 
well, Cliff upon Tees, Thornton Steward, and 
other places, for the maintenance of 10 addi¬ 
tional Canons and 2 secular ones over and 
above the usual number, which inhabited it; 
and also for the support of 22 poor men, to cele¬ 
brate Divine Service for the prosperity of King 
Richard and Jus heirs during their lives, and 
for their sou Is after th >r de< ease , likewise for 


* Bolton was the ancientscat of the Barons le S. r pt?, 
whose family had resided ia this County from the reign 





RICHMOND. 273 

the souls of his predecessors end those of all 


ot King John. Special licence having first been oh- 
taided, a magnificent Castle was built here by Richard 
ie Sc rope, Chancellor of England about the 3d. or 4th 
year- of Richard II. at the enormous charge of 18,000 
Marks, or 12,000 Founds, a very great sum according 
to the then value of money. It was 18 years in building, 
for the walls were remarkably strong, beng 7 feet thick* 
and 96 high, with an open Court in the centre, which 
gave light and air to- the inward apartments. Tho 
plan of this Castle is quadrangular, haring a square 
Tower at each corner, and small ones in the centre of 
the North and South Sides. The grand entrance was at 
the East end near the Southern Tower. Leland re- 
marks “ How in the Hall, smoke was conveyed in 
tunnels made in the sides of the wall between the win¬ 
dows, andby this means, and no covers, it is wonder- 

fully ana strangely carried off’’ 

There was a Chapel in the Castle, dedicated to St. 
Ann, in which a Chantry was founded by the above 
Richard Lord Scrope, for 6 Priests to celebrate Mass for 
the soul of Richard II. and those of his heirs; one of 
them to be Warden. In this Castle Mary Queen of 
Scotland was confined in 1568 nearly two years, under 
the care of Lord Scrope, hut not A'ory closely, being per¬ 
mitted to ride out occasionally. Here the Duke of Nor¬ 
folk, a relation of the Scropes, made his first overtures, 
which caused her to be removed to Tutbury Castle, in 
Staffordshire. She had left her name upon a pane of 
glass in her bed-room window, cut with a diamond 



THE HISTORY OF 


274 

the faithful. He died the 4th of Henry l V. 
and by his Will directed that the sum of two 
Shillings should be given to every Parish, anni¬ 
versary, or Chantry Priest belonging to the 
Churches of Richmcndshire, who attended his 
funeral ; and ordered his body to be deposited 
in this Abbey, where Stephen his Son, and 
many others of the Scropes lie : with this 

ring, which was preserved with great care in its origi¬ 
nal state many years, but since removed to Bolton-Hall, 
a house built in 1678 by Charles Paulett, Marquis of 
Winchester, created Duke of Bolton by William III. 

During the Civil Wars, Bolton Castle was bravely 
defended for the King by Lord Scrope and a party of the 
Itichmondshire Militia; and was honourably surren¬ 
dered Novembsr 5, 1645. Emanuel Lord Scrope, af¬ 
terwards created Earl of Sunderland, was the last of 
that family who resided here. He died in the reign of 
Charles I. without male issue ; and his daughter mar¬ 
rying an .ancestor of the Duke of Bolton, carried the 
Castle with the other Estates into that family. 

This was one of the inland Castles, which were ordered 
by the Committee at York in 1647 to be destroyed and 
made untenable. The Tower at the East end was so 
greatly damaged in these wars, that on November 19, 
1761 it fell to the ground, after having stood 400 years. 
The East and North sides are entirely in ruins; the 
Western and Southern sides have been better preserved, 
and are now inhabited by the tenants. 



RICHMOND. 275 

family St. Agatha seems to have been a fa- 
yourite shrine. 

Many of the ornaments of the Abbey were 
carried away at the dissolution to decorate other 
places, and among other things, the Aldermen’s 
Pews at Richmond, as has beeu mentioned be¬ 
fore ; a magnificent and curiously carved one 
was conveyed to Wemley Church, anciently 
the Pew of the Scropes. 

Easeby and Manfielo Churches belonged 
to it ; the former is remarkable for not standing 
due East and West, for its rustic simplicity, 
and a neat, well-ordered, cemetery : I t was con¬ 
secrated in 1424 by a Bishop of Dromore, aud if 
one may judge from the Arms of Scrope of Bol¬ 
ton placed over the Porch, those of Brian Eitz- 
Alan on the left, and of Conyers on the right 
of it, it was built by these noble families. In 
the East window of the South Aisle, where there 
seems to have been a Chantry, from a piscina* 


* Thk Piscina used to be placed, not only near the 
High Altar, but also in the Aisles and Chantry Chapels,' 
where there were side Altars for private Masses; aud in 
•ase any fly, or other insect, should fall into the cha¬ 
lice before consecration, it was directed to be thrown, 
together with the wine, into this receptacle ; but should 



§76 


THE HISTORY OF 


bf j itig placet] in the wall and other ornaments 
usual in such places, are painted among other 
fragments of stained glass, the Arras of hitz- 
Alan, and near it those of Percy and Lucy 
quartered, 1st and 4th, or, a Lion rampant, 
azure : 2d. and 3d gules, three Luces for 
pikes) hauriant, argent. This Vicarage in the 
survey of Church livings, made in 1535 or 1536 
just before the dissolution of Abbies, was va¬ 
lued at s€3. a year ; but when the Abbey of St. 
Agatha, which was impropriator of the Church, 
was dissolved, the Canon, who was then Vicar, 
gave it in at £%. a year, and had that allow- 
ance made him from the Crown. This stipend, 
with the impropriation, was passed to the 
family of the Greenwoods in Oxfordshire ; but 
that family having been long abroad, and till 
lately supposed to be extinct, the tithes have 
not for many years been claimed, and are per¬ 
haps for ever lost. 

The Presentation to the Vicarage is now 
lodged in the Crown, but in the year 1697 a 
caveat was entered by VVjlliam Smith,* who 


this happen afterwards, it was directed to be burnt 
super piscinam. 

Gentleman's Magazine, August, 1776, 



RICHMOND. 


277 


asserted that the Presentation belonged to him 
by virtue of Letters Patent from the Crown, 
Four Pounds a year is paid to ti e Vicar by 
the owner of Aske, which is situated in this 
Parish; and the rent of the Parish land at 
Barton has been by consent of the Parishi¬ 
oners given to him for many years past, for the 
ancient Deeds of conveyance made in the be¬ 
ginning of the reign of Henry Vlll. mention 
no uses ; neither is it known for what purpose 
»t was given, nor in whom the inheritance is 
lodged, there having been no nomination of 

Trustees for above 200 years together ; nor is 
• 

't certain who was the survivor of the last 16. 
Several of the ancient Deeds of conveyance were 
in 1716 in the hands of Mr. Smith,* * the then 
Rector of Melsonby. 

Man field Church was in 1335 appropri¬ 
ated, after the death or resignation of the then 

Rector, to this Abbey, by Robert de Wode. 

_ -.. . _ - - 

* This person founded an Hospital in Easeby for 
four poor Women, and endowed it with a Rent charge of 
101. a year on the Easeby Estate. On the front of the 
building is tfiis Inscription : “ This Hospital was 
“ founded and endowed by William Smith Rector of Mel- 
*< sonby, in the 82d year of his age, Anno Domini, 
“ 1732.” 




278 


THE HISTORY OF 


house. Archdeacon of Richmond, who had the 
patronage of it, reserving to himself and the 
future Archdeacons a portion of 25 marks out 
of the Altarages, and tithe of lamb and hay, 
and a pension of 40s. In 1347 this Church was 
confirmed to the Abbey by William de la 
Zouch, Archbishop of York, who reserved for 
himself 13s. 4d. a year, for a Chaplain 6s. 8d., 
and a competent portion out of the fruits for the 
Vicar, to be by him moderated. 

The ruins of this Abbey, once the boasted 
beauty of the country, and an excellent proof 
of the judgement which the Monks used in 
choosing situations for their Religious Houses, 
are highly worthy of Antiquarian inspection, 
many specimens of its ancient grandeur remain¬ 
ing. The large square Gateway, formerly 
the repository of the Records belonging to the 
Abbey, has been built with unusual strength, 
and as it has been generally used as a Granary 
since the dissolution, it is the only part that 
has been kept in repair: this is curious for 
having circular arches constructed under point¬ 
ed ones, which probably may have been the 
effect of repairs after the first building, or as if 
the original idea had been altered, and the 
Saxon arches erected for the better support of 
the floor above. The upper room has been 


RICHMOND. 


279 


lighted at each end by a window, one of which 
is divided into two lights by a mullion ending at 
the top in a quatrefoil ornament, and the other 
divided in the same manner, but terminating in 
a small quatrefoil, having a trefoil on each side: 
over this last is another small window, with an 
embossed rose at the top of it in a circular re¬ 
cess, excavated in the wall. 

The other buildings were of considerable ex. 
tent and architectural magnificence, as is mani¬ 
fest from what is now remaining, particularly 
a large Gothic Window at the end of the 
Refectory reaching almost lo the deling, and 
divided by two mullions branching above into 
three cinquefoils, a large one crowning the 
centre, and a small one on each side ; it ap¬ 
pears as if there had been two more mullions, 
which are now broken off and entirely gone 
This room has been also lighted by six other 
windows, with pointed arches, on the East side, 
and buttresses between them ; on the West, are 
two small ones; the walls of it yet remain in 
good preservation, and are so entire as to give 
a very good idea of its former structure, which 
must have been beautiful and highly ornamented 
in its original state. It is 34 yards long by 9 
wide, and the floor under which have been cells 


A a 2 


280 


THE HISTORY OF 


and other apartments, was supported by strong 
arches. The South end of it is covered with 
ivy, which clinging by slender fibres to the cre¬ 
vices, supports the whole from giving way? per¬ 
mitting but partial glances of the walls. Near 
this end have been many noble Apartments ; 
one of them has a handsome elegant Window, 
formed by three pointed arches intersecting 
each other, supported upon clustered pilasters 
with richly carved capitals, gradually decreas¬ 
ing in their cireumfereuce from that which is 
uppermost; under the crown ofeach arch is a 
quartrefoii surrounded by a circle \ the twcx 
inner divisions made by the intersections aro 
open, and have been used as the lights ; the two 
side ones are blank, and walled up; at the other 
end is a small window’ divided by a mullion ter¬ 
minating- in a quatrefoil ; these apartments are 
vaulted and groined with capital masonry, round 
arches on the ground-floor, and pointed ones 
above. This side of the ruins, partly shaded 
by tufts of ivy, is in a dangerous state, and very 
much out of the perpendicular from being 
robbed of many of its buttresses. An altera¬ 
tion in religious opinions - has made a wonderful 
change in this stately building, and the conse¬ 
quence has been, that from being the hallowed 

4 ^ 


RICHMOND*. 2gf 

habitation of men, it is now become the abode* 
of cattle and the den of noxious v-erinm. 

In the inner Court is a curious Saxon Dbon- 
Way, standing on a cluster of round columns' 
with ornamented capitals, and surrounded by a 
double moulding composed of cats heads, having 
long tongues hanging out curled at the ends, 
and with an outer moulding formed by foliage, 
but varied in the disposition of the leaves and 
tendrils. Near this is a pointed Arch, sur¬ 
rounded by two richly carved mouldings, stud* 
ded with small projecting four-leaved knobs, 
the sculpture of which is still fresh and sharp ; 
within it are two niches divided by a fluted co¬ 
lumn, each headed by a trefoil.shaped moulding, 
curiously carved in the Gothic style, and 
studded like the arch ; in each niche has been 
an image , one only remains, which appears to 
have been St. Agatha, though very much 
mutilated : the spandril between the niche9 is 
embellished with four triply three-fold leaves-, 
placed like the spokes of a wheel in a quatre. 
foil shaped cornice ; near it are many other 
pieces of sculpture, ornamented with' corres¬ 
ponding deco rai l on s. 

Tins Chancel of the (Chapel may still be- 
tra«ed ; and on walking over itj it* sounds as;it; 

A a. S 


282 


THE HISTORY OF 


liollow with vaults ; on the North side of it, 
near the Altar, are two recesses in the wall, 
coeval with the building, where Ro Aldus and 
his Wife were placed in stone coffins. A 
stone Chimney is still very perfect, which 
shews how chimnies in those days were con¬ 
structed ; and a small octagon room on the 
West, with seats round it and arched over with 
stones richly carved, appears to have been a 
place of retirement for the Abbot and his fa* 
vourites. Near this is an Alien level with the 
ground, supposed to have been a subterraneous 
passage, but which was probably nothing more 
than one of the larger drains. The Mill must 
have been of long standing, and coeval with 
the Abbey, as the dam runs through a part of 
the ruins, where there are two lancet shaped 
windows to give light to it, and passes by a 
large old Barn, which was very likely used for 
the same purpose by the Monks, and is still in 
a perfect state. The large plot of ground whicli 
it has covered, and the magnitude of the ruins 
cast into fantastic forms, cannot fail to merit 
the attention of every admirer of the remnants 
of antiquity ; and from the variety of scattered 
buildings, and the dismembered appearance of 
Siany ornamented parts intermixed with trees, 


RICHMOND. 283 .. 

■whose branches cast a gloomy shade, each new 
visitor will find out new beauties. 

A venerable old Tkee, the Abbot’s Elm. 
withered at the top, and bereft of many of its 
fair branches by that old destroyer Tune, st 11 
remains, now the roost of Owls, Ravens, and 
other Birds of reputed ill omen ; but once a 
witness of the flourishing state of this Abbey, 
and under whose shade many a portly Monk has 
basked through a Summer’s day in all the indo¬ 
lence of Monastic pride. At a middle distance 
between the Gate-way and Village, the walls 
give an echo very distinct, and which clearly 
jeverbrates three or four times. 

Easeby is a small Hamlet, pleasantly situ¬ 
ated upon the left bank of the River, and dis¬ 
tant from Richmond about a mile. Previous to 
the Conquest, Tor held the Manor, and his 
share of the lands contained five carucates* and 
seven villains, who cultivated the Lord’s de¬ 
mesnes, of the yearly value of 40s. in the time 
of King Edward. After the Conquest, Em. 
sant Musard, a Norman, obtained it along 

* Carccate the same as Hide, and contained about 
120 Acres j the former a Norman name, the latter 
Saxon for the same quantity of land. Some counties 
formerly reckoned by Hides, and some by carucates. 



284 THE HISTORY OF 

with the other rich possessions of Tor ; Em- 
sant was a great favourite with Earl Alan, and 
was appointed by him Constable of Richmond 
Castle. Upon the death of Emsant, his Es» 
tates devolved tu his son Roald, who succeeded 
him as Constable under the 3d Alan. The Es¬ 
tate continued in his family till the reign of Ed- 
wardTH. when Thomas de Burton, male 
heir of the family, sold it to Henry le Sc rope, 
Lord of Bolton. 

Descending lower down, the beautiful Wood 
of the Abbey presents itself, through which is a 
pleasing shaded walk by the side of the Swale ; 
the river here, under a rich hanging wood of 
oaks interspersed with other trees, Hows in a 
picturesque manner over large stones and shelv- 
ing rocks; sometimes it foaming surmounts every 
impediment in rapid streams, at others, in a 
slow majestic way, it winds its course, till it 
reaches Brompton-Bridge, which is of great 
antiquity, as mention is made of a Bridge being 
there in the time of William the Conqueror. 
Opposite to this place was the Chantry of St, 
Giles, and, on the left bank of the nv+r, in 
Brompton, was another. This last village is- 
situated in the Parish of Ease by, distant from 


RICHMOND 


285 


Richmond about 3 miles. This was also one of 
the possessions of Tor, who had 7 carucates of 
land in it; it and the Mill with his other pos¬ 
sessions, settled at fat.t in Scrope of Bolton, in 
the same manner as Base by. 

We now get a view of a large Bridge over 
the Swale, which takes the name of CATTER- 
ICK-BRIDGE from the adjoining Town. At 
the South end of it was placed a Chapel, dedi¬ 
cated to St. Ann, where Mass was said every 
day at 11 o’clock for the use of Travellers, 
praying for a prosperous journey. The re¬ 
mains of it are still in existence, and now de¬ 
graded to a coal hole, belonging to the only 
house in the place, which is an Inn, and was 
used as such in the time of Henry VTII. when 
Iceland travelled this way. 

Catterick is a place of great antiquity, and 
was formerly a Roman station, which Ptolemy 
and Antoninus called Cataractonium. Some 
vestiges of one of their military roads are to be 
found here, which with various branches ex- 
tended a great way North. On the banks of 
the Swale, a little South of Catterick, is a 
large Mount, with four Bulwarks cast up to a 
considerable height ; from the foundation of a 


286 THE HISTORY OF 


large building being found here, and the lofty 
situation, it is coujectured that a frontier garri¬ 
son had been kept at this place. About two 
centuries ago, another large foundation was 
opened, in hopes of finding some hidden trea¬ 
sure ; the workmen at last came to a pair of 
iron gales ; transported with the idea of getting 
rich, they left their work in order to refresh 
themselves; in their absence a great quantity 
of hanging ground fell in, and the great labour 
to remove it discouraged them from any further 
attempt. Iu a field at Thornborough*, near 
Catterick-Bridge, many Roman coinshave been 
found; one particularly of gold with this in¬ 
scription, u NERO. IMP. CAESAR, ” on 
the reverse u JUPITER GUSTOS.” Like 
wise near Brough-Hall, the seat of Sir Henry 
Lawson, Bart, as the servants of one of his an¬ 
cestors were ploughing, they discovered a large 
brass pot, containing a great quantify of Ro- 


* Tiiornbouougii is a Farm near Catterick and 
Brough, formerly the seat of a family of that name : it 
went along with Catterick in the beginning of the 17tk 
century to the Lawsons, by the marriage of Elizabeth, 
only daughter and heiress of Roger Burgh with Ralph 
Lawson, Esq. whose posterity enjoys them both at thi« 
time. 



RICHMOND. 


287 


man coins, mostly copper, but some of silver. 
Many of them were given to King Charles to be 
preserved among his curiosities. 

Catterick, during the Saxon government, 
was a flourishing city, the marriage of King 
Ethelred to the daughter of Offa, King of the 
Mercians, being solemnized there : yet it did 
not continue long in that state, for in the Da¬ 
nish outrages, it was totally destroyed, and has 
ever since remained only what may be called a 
handsome village. 

Opposite to thisplaceisBOLTON-UPON- 
SWALE, famous for the birth-place of Henry 
Jenkins, that astonishing instance of longevity. 
He was born in 1500, and followed the employ¬ 
ment of fishing 140 years. When about 11 or 12 
years old, he was sent to Northallerton with a 
horse load of arrows for the army of the Earl of 
Surrey on its march to the North, all the men 
being employed at harvest; and, when he was 
more than 100 yearsold, he used to swim across 
the riverwith the greatest ease, and withoutcatch- 
ing cold. Being summoned to a Tithe Cause at 
York in 1G67, between the Vicar of Catterick, 
and William and Peter Mawbank, he deposed, 
“ That the tithes of wool, lamb, &c. were the 
Vicar’s, and had been paid to his knowledge 


288 THE HISTORY OE 


120 years and more.” And in another Cause 
between Mr. Hawes and Mr. Was tell of Eller* *• 
ton, he gave evidence to 120 years. Being 
born before Parish Registers Were kept, which 
did not come into use till the 30th year of the 
reign of Henry VIII. one of the Judges asked 
him, what memorable battle or event had hap¬ 
pened in his memory: to which he answered, 
“ That when the battle of Flodden Field was 
fought, where the Scots were beat, with the 
death of their King*, he was turned of 12 years 
of ageBeing asked how he lived, he said, 
44 by thatching and salmon fishing ; that when 
he was served with a subpoena, he was thatching 
a house, and would dub a hook with any man 
in Yorkshire ; that he had been butler to Lord 


* The Body of the Scotch King, slain in that fight. 
M as brought to York, exposed to public view, and after- 
wards carried by King Henry’s orders to the Charter- 
House, from thence to Sheen, a Monastery near Rich¬ 
mond in Surrey; “where” says Stowe, “ it remained 
“ for some time, in what order I know not. But since 
“ the dissolution of the Abbies, Henry Grey, then 
“ Duke of Suffolk keeping House there, I have been 

*• shewed,” adds he, “ the same body, as M'as affirmed, 
“ wrapped in lead, and thrown into an old waste roora^ 
“ amongst old timber, stone, lead, and rubbish.” A 
strange monument of human instability. 



RICHMOND. 


289 


Coniers of Hornby Castle, atul that Marniaduke 
Brodley, Abbot of Fountain's Abbey, did 
frequently visit his Lord, and drink a hearty 
glass with him ; that his Lord often sent him to 
enquire how the Abbot did, who always or¬ 
dered him, besides wassel, a quarter of a yard 
of roast beet for refreshment; for that Monas¬ 
teries delivered meat by measnre to their visi¬ 
tors, and wassel was served in a horn cup.” 
Being further asked, if he remembered the dis¬ 
solution of religious houses, he said, i{ very 
well, and that he was between 30 and 40 years 
of age when the order came to dissolve those in 
Yorkshire ; that great lamentation was made, 
and the country all in a tumult, when the Monks 
were turned out.” 

Wiiat a multitude of events, says an ingeni¬ 
ous author, has crowded into the period of this 
man's life. He was born when the Catholic 

4 

Religion was established by law', he saw the 
supremacy of the Pope overturned, the disso¬ 
lution of Monasteries, Popery established again, 
and at last the Protestant Religion securely 
fixed upon a rock of adamant. In his time the 
Invincible Armada was destroyed, the Republic 
of Holland formed , three Queens beheaded, 

Bb 


290 


THE HISTORY OF 


Ann Boleyn, Catharine Howard, and Mary 
Queen of Scots, a King of Spain seated upon 
the Throne of England, a King of Scotland 
crowned King of England at Westminster, and 
his Son beheaded before his own Palace, his 
family being proscribed as traitors, and last of 
all, the great Fire in London, which happened 
in 1666, at the latter end of his wonderful life. 

Jenkins could neither read or write. He 
died at Ellerton-upon-Swale, and was buried 
in Bolton Church-yard, December 6, 1670, 
w here a Monument was erected to his memory, 
and this Epitaph, composed by Dr. Thomas Chap, 
man. Master of Magdalen College, Cambridge, 
engraven upon it : 

BLUSH NOT MARBLE 
TO RESCUE FROM OBLIVION 

The MEMORY of HENRY JENKINS; 

A PERSON OBSCURE IN BIRTH, 

BUT OF A LIFE TRULY MEMORABLE ; 

FOR 

HE WAS ENRICHED WITH THE GOODS OF NATURE, 

I F NOT O F FORTUNE ; 

AND HAPPY IN THE DURATION, 

IF NOT THE VARIETY OF HIS ENJOYMENTS; 

AND,THOUGH 


RICHMOND. 


291 


THE PARTIAL WOULD DESPISED AND 

DISREGARDED HIS LOW A N D HUM RLE STATE, 

THE EQUAL EYE OF PROVIDENCE BEHELD 

AND BLESSED IT 

WITH A PATRIARCH’S HEALTH 

AND LENGTH OF DAYS, 

5 

TO TEACH MISTAKEN MAN, 

THESE BLESSINGS ARE ENTAILED ON 
TEMPERANCE, 

A LIFE OF LABOUR, AND A MIN'D AT EASE. 

HE LIVED 

TO THE AMAZING AGE OF 


As the river descends, it begins by degrees to 
lose its gravelly bottom and large stones ; and 
passing by several beautiful seats, villages, and 
many neat Farm-Houses surrounded by a great 
variety of rich inclosures, it comes to Morton- 
fdridge ; then taking a deep, muddy, appear¬ 
ance, it finally loses its name in the Eure at, 
Myton, a small village, but memorable for a 
great slaughter committed there in 1319 by the 
Scots ; who, though England was almost made 
dessolate by a raging Plague, continued their 
ravages to this place, and easily routed a con¬ 
siderable body of Priests and Peasants, whom 

B b 2 


292 


THE HISTORY OF 


William de Melton, Archbishop ofVork, h id 
drawn thither against them. 

Salmon and Smelts used to abound in this 
river, and come up as high as Richmond, which 
afforded much sport to the angler ; the inhabu 
tants in general formerly received great amuse¬ 
ment at seeing the Salmon rise, and in a Hood 
endeavour by very extraordinary leaps to 
spring up above the Foss ; of late years their 
progress has been stopped by the making of 
locks across the river in the neighbourhood of 
Topeliffe, and no Salmon or even Smelts are 
now to be met with near this place. But w hat 
is the most extraordinary, Trouts only are to 
be found above the Foss-Head, and below it 
Eels, Grayling, Pikes, and all other kinds Of 
Fish, which generally frequent deep muddy 
rivers. The whole are however very much de¬ 
stroyed by the washing of the ore at the Lead. 
Minces, called a hush, which is fatal to the 
Spawn, by impregnating the water with par¬ 
ticles of lead, rendering it white and giving 
it very much the appearance of dirty soap 
suds. 




OLD CUSTOMS. 


THlIE OLD CUSTOMS of our Forefathers, 
aie partly worn out, nor can the origin of many 
of them, from the scanty sources that remain, 
be explained ; a great proof of their antiquity 
is, that they have survived the general know¬ 
ledge of the very cause, which gave rise to them: 
Yet many are still retained, the beginning of 
which has been partly traced out by the inde¬ 
fatigable researches of Bourne and Brady, 
whose works have furnished some ideas in the 
following remarks, that may afford amuse¬ 
ment. 

CiimsTM As is not kept up with that warm 
hospitality, which v\as formerly observed, but 
chi< fly confined to family parties: which,, though 
less jovial in their nature, are pernaps more? 
advantageous to society., as they may be 'em.. 

]> hr 3> 



294 THE HISTORY OF 


j >yed on other da) s not devoted to more gene¬ 
ral convivialty. 

I n the early state of the Church, Christ¬ 
mas Day was observed in the same manner as 
the Lord’s Day ; and in like manner preceded 
by an Eve or Vigil, as a preparation for that 
great Festival. Our ancestors, as a part of 
that night’s ceremonies, used to light up can¬ 
dles of an uncommon size called Christmas 
Candles, and to lay upon the fire a block of 
wood called a Yule.Log, but should the log be 
so large as not to be all burnt that night, it was 
kept till Old Christmas Eve. These were to 
'illuminate the house, and turn night into day ; 
and were accounted an emblem of that star, 
which shining round about the Shepherds as they 
were watching their flocks by night, directed 
them where to find the Babe. The expression 
Yule is taken from the Saxons, and signifies 
Christmas, being merely a barbarism of that 
word, and when applied or added to logs of 
wood, cakes, games, &c. severally denotes the 
amusements or articles in use at that holy sea¬ 
son ; this custom is still retained in these 
Northern parts. One preaching against the 
observing of Christmas, said in Scotch jingle, 
u ye will say, Sirs, good Old Yule Day ; I tell 


RICHMOND. 


295 

you good old fool day. You will say, it is a 
brave holiday ; I fcellyou it is a brave belly 
day.’* 

We have still remaining the Christmas 
Carol, a pious song, that commemorates the 

merry time of Christmas, which brings tidings 
of comfort and joy.” This song was said to 
have been sung to the Shepherds by the Angels, 
as they hovered over the fields of Bethtehem in 
the morning of the Birth of our Savionr. 'This 
kind of Songs is of long standing : in the ear¬ 
ly ages they were sung in the Church itself, in 
memory of the Nativity, as many of the hy mns 
for that season manifestly shew. Tertuliian 
says, “ it was customary among the Chris¬ 
tians at their Feasts to bring those, who were 
able to sing, into the middle, and make them 
chant a song to God out of the Holy Scriptures, 
or of their own composition,” As this was done 
at their feasts, no doubt it was observed at the 
great Festival of the Nativity. These songs 
are now generally thrown into loo*e rhymes, 
and sung about the streets by the common 
people, when they go to beg alms. They ge¬ 
nerally carry with them small dolls or babies 
dressed up to typify the advent of our Lord. 


398 THE H'TSTORY OF 

The Waites or Watch were appointed 
to guard the Town by night, and go their 
rounds at certain hours, to give notice of fire, 
and prevent depredations ; the morning watch 
they lupt with their musical instruments. For¬ 
merly they went every day in the week, except 
on Sundays and Christmas Holidays I hey are 
also the Town’s musicians, and play before the 
Mayor in his procrssious through the streets 
and on other gala days. 

* * •* w A • Jn 

The Sword or Morisco Dance is an old 
custom practised here duri g the Christmas 
Hollidays by young men dressed in shirts, orna* 
mented with ribbons folded into roses, having 
sw ords, or wood cnt in the form of that weapon. 
They exhibit various feats of activity, attended 
by an old fiddler, by Bessey in the grotesque 
habit of an old woman, and by the Fool al¬ 
most covered with skins, a hairy cap on his 
head, and the fa l of a Fox hanging from his 
back: these lead the festive throng, and divert 
the crowd with their droll antic buffoonery. 
The office of one of these characters is to go 

about rattling a box, and soliciting money from 

✓ - * 

door to door, to defray the expences of a 
Feast and a dance iu the evening. This old 


RICH MONO. 


297 


custom cannot be more curiously or better de¬ 
scribe.] here than it is U/ Olaus Magnus in 
1*is History of the Northern Nations, which 
passage has been often quoted by other Authors. 
“ First, with their swords sheathed, and erect 
in their hands, they dance in a tripple round; 
then, with their drawn swords held erect as 
before ; afterwards, extending them from hand 
to hand, they lay hold of each others hilt and 
point, while they are wheeling more moder¬ 
ately round ; and changing their*order, throve 
themselves into a figure of a hexagon, which 
they call a rose ; but presently raising and 
drawing back their swords, they undo that fi¬ 
gure, to form with them a four square rose, that 
may rebound over the head of each. At last 
they dance rapidly backwards, and loudly ratt¬ 
ling the sides of the swords together, conclude 
the sport ” This appears to have been invented 
by a warlike people, and probably is a compo¬ 
sition made up of the gleanings of several old 
customs. The dance is now performed with 
the single alteration of laying their swords upon 
the ground, when formed into a figure, and 
dancing round them, singing and repeating a 
long string of uncouth verses, after having cut 
off in appearance the fool’s head. Thehool 


298 THE HISTORY OF 


and Bessy are plainly fragments of the ancient 
Festival of Fools, held on New Year’s Day, 
when all sorts of absurdities and indecencies 
were indulged in. 

The Romans in the earliest times were ac¬ 
customed to carry as New Year’s Gifts small 
presents to the Senators, under whose protec¬ 
tion they were severally placed ; and in the 
reigns of the Emperors, they flocked in such 
numbers with valuable ones, each according to 
his ability, that various Imperial Decrees were 
enacted to abolish the custom ; however it al¬ 
ways continued among the people. The Bo* 
mans, who settled in Britain, introduced these 
New Year’s Gifts among our Forefathers, who 
got into the habit of making presents even to 
the Magistrates. Some of the Fathers of the 
Church writing against them, as fraught with 
the greatest abuses committed under such pro. 
tection, the Magistrates were forced to relin¬ 
quish them. That eminent but unfortunate 
character Sir Thomas More, when Lord Chan¬ 
cellor, laboured under this suspicion, from 
having received a pair of gloves containing a 
sum of money, a present from a Lady, who 
had obtained a Decree in Chancery: he think- 


RICHMOND. 


299 


ing that it would be a breach of good manners 
to refuse from a Gentlewoman a New Year’s 
Gift, politely accepted the gloves, but desired 
the lining might be bestowed elsewhere. Many 
other instances, to be found in old records, of 
giving a pair of gloves might be brought, some 
with linings and others without. 

The custom in some degree is still kept up, 
and New Year’s Gifts are continued to be re¬ 
ceived and given by all ranks ; Friends present 
each other with some small token of esteem, 
husband the wife, and parents the children. 
These customs, so nearly grown out of use, 
have certainly their good etfects ; they keep up 
a cheerful and friendly intercourse among ac¬ 
quaintance, and lead to that good humour and 
mirth so necessary to keep up the spirits in this 
dreary season of the year. 

Among other presents at this time, Pins were 
given, which were found extremely neat in 
comparison with the wooden skewers formerly 
used, and which, though trifling, were ac¬ 
ceptable presents to the Ladies. From these 
donations, Pin-Money became a familiar ex¬ 
pression for the settlement made upon females, 
through the necessary caution of Parents or 
Guardians against any future ill treatment of 
husbands. 


300 


THE HISTORY OF 


Tiiu Barbers Shops also retain the custom j' 
a thrift.box, as it is called, is put by the Ap¬ 
prentice boys against the w&iJ, and every cus¬ 
tomer according tc> his indication puts in some, 
tiling, (lay in his Trivia alludes to it : 

i< Some Bbys arc rich by bb’ili beyond all wants, 
Belov’d by Uncles and kijid good old Aunts j 
u Whi n .hues come round, a Christmas* Box they bear, 
“ And one day makes them rich for all the year.” 

The custom is now in a great measure confined 
to the poorer children and old infirm persons, 
who beg at the doors of the charitable that 
small pittance, which though collected in small 
sums, yet when put together, forms to them a 
little treasure ; so that every heart, in all situ, 
ations of life, beats with joy at the nativity of 
his Saviour, 

The Hagmena is an old custom observed 
on New Year’s Eve. The keeper of the Pin¬ 
fold goes round the Town, attended by a rabble 
at his heels, and knocking at certain doors, 
sings a barbarous song, according to the custom 
u of old King Henry’s days;” and at the end 
of every verse, they shout Hagman Heigh, 
\V hen wood was chiefly used by our forefathers 
as fuel, this was the most appropriate season 


RICHMOND. 


301 


for the hagman or wood*cutter, to remind his 
customers of his services, and solicit alms from 
them. The word Ilag is still used among us for 
a wood, and the hag-man may be a compound 
name from that employment. Some give it a 
more sacred interpretation, as derived from the 
Greek ayia, pjv*; the Holy Month, when the 
Festivals of the Church for our Saviour’s 
birth were celebrated. Formerly on the 
last day of December, the Monks and Friars 
used to make a plentiful harvest by begging 
from door to door and reciting a kind of Carol, 
at the end of every stave of which they intro¬ 
duced the words agia mene, alluding to the 
Birth of Christ. A very different interpreta¬ 
tion has however been given to it by one John 
Dixon, a Scotch Presbyterian Parson, when 
holding forth against this custom, in one of his 
Sermons at Kelso. ‘ 4 Sirs, do you know what 
Hagman signifies ? It is the Devil to be in the 
house : that is the meaning of its Hebrew ori¬ 
ginal. ” It is more probably a corruption of 
some Saxon words, which length of time has 
rendered obsolete. 

On Valentine’s Day is a ceremony seldom 
omitted of drawing lots, which they call Valen. 

C c 



302 THE HISTORY OB' 

fines. The names of a select number of one 
sex with an equal number of the other, are put 
into a vessel, anti every one draws a name, which 
is called their Valentine ; and which is looked 
upon as a good omen of their being united after¬ 
wards. There is a tradition, that on this day 
every bird chooses its mate ; from this perhaps 
the youthful part of the world has first practised 
this custom, so common at this season ; and as 
St. Valentine was a man famous for his love and 
charity, the custom of choosing Valentines on 
his Festival, took its name from thence. 

Tiif following Sonnet is taken from, u Sa- 
44 tyres of Boilean Imitated,” and is one of 
the best that has been written upon this occa¬ 
sion. 

To DORINDA on VALENTINES DAY. 

“ Look how, my dear, the feather’d kind, 

“ By mutual caresses join’d, 

“ Bill and seem to teach us two, 

“ What we to love and custom otve. 

“ Shall only you and I forbear 
il To meet and make a happy pair ? 

“ Shall we alone delay to live ? 
u This day an age of bliss may give. 

(e But ah ! when I the proffer make, 

“ Still coyly you refuse to take : 


RICHMOND. 


303 


il My heart I dedicate in vain, 

“ The too mean present you disdain. 

“ Yet since the solemn time allows 
u To choose the object of our vows ; 
“ Boldly I dare profess my flame, 

“ Proud to be yours by any name.” 


Palm Sunday was socalledfrom the branches 
and green boughs of the palm tree being strewed 
by the Children of Israel in the way of our Sa¬ 
viour, as he rode to Jerusalem. In coinmemo. 
ration of this day, the Church has from the 
earliest period held it in the greatest respect 
and veneration ; and the boys, to keep up the 
custom, go into the fields, and gather the 
flowers or buds of the willow. These seem to 
have been selected, as this is one of the early 
trees, in which vegetation is discovered at this 
season. 

At Easter it is customary for work to cease, 
that servants may be at liberty to be present at 
the devotions of the Festival for our Saviour's 
resurrection. The Church has particular ser¬ 
vices for this occasion, which are strictly at¬ 
tended to by the more devout part of Chris¬ 
tians ; but the lower order of society has its in- 

C c % 



304 


THE HISTORY OF 


dulgericies, and among other customs frequently 
observed is this, on Suuday afternoon and 
Monday morning, the men have the privilege of 
taking off the women’s shoes, which are only 
to be redeemed by a present or some mark of 
civility : Monday afternoon and Tuesday morn- 
J ng the women snatch off the men’s hats, which 
are redeemed in like manner. 

May-Games are now laid aside in the coim. 
try, but there is some little appearance of what 
they were, kept up in London by the milk¬ 
maids, who go about the streets dancing with 
garlands and music; but this is (racing a very 
imperfect shadow of the original. Maypoles, 
adorned with boughs, flowers, and other tokens 
of the Spring, used to be set tip in the streets, 
and with various martial shows, morris-danc¬ 
ing, and otlur amusements the day passed away. 
From the earliest period of antiquity, it used 
to be an universal cus om to celebrate with 
every demonstration of festivity, the return of 
the animating season of Spring. Women in 
honour of Flora danced about the streets in 
wanton attitudes, accompanied by the common 
people, who joined in the tumultuous dissipa* 
turns of the day. 


RICHMOND. 


305 

The Chimney Sw eepers in London still cele¬ 
brate this day, as they are, in these modern 
times, the principal persons interested in May- 
Sports, This custom of theirs may perhaps be* 
attributed to the commencement of Summer, 
when the laborious part of their occupation 
ceased, and the poverty incident to tneir pro¬ 
fession, alleviated by the charitable contribu¬ 
tions of their customers. 

Interludes and a kind of Plays were also 
a part of the ceremonies of the day, as appears 
from an old account of the May-Games per¬ 
formed on the 29th of May 1660, by the in¬ 
habitants of Richmond, whereby they demon¬ 
strated their universal joy for the happy return 
of King Charles II. whom God was pleased 
to make the instrument of freeing this nation 
from tyranny, usurpation, and the dismal ef¬ 
fects of a civil war. 

They came into the Town in solemn equi¬ 
page as follows ; 

1st, Three Antics before them with Bag. 

Pipes. 

2d. The Representative of a Loro, attended 
by trumpets, falconers,’, four pages, as many, 

G c • $ 


306 THE HISTORY OF 


footmen, and 50 attendants, all suited as be¬ 
came persons of their quality. 

3d. The Representative of a Sheriff, with 
40 attendants in their liveries. 

4th. The Bishop of Hereford, with four 
pages and footmen, his chaplain, and 20 other 
household officers, besides their attendants. 

5th. Two Companies of Morris-Dancers, 
who acted their parts to the satisfaction of the 
Spectators. 

6th. Sixty Nymphs, with music before them, 
following Diana, all richly adorned in white 
and gorgeous apparel, with pages and footmen 
attending them. 

7th. Three Companies of Foot Soldiers, 
with a Captain and other officers in great mag- 
uificence. 

8th. Robin Hood in scarlet, with 40 bow¬ 
men, all clad in Lincoln green. 

Thus they marched into the Town. Now 
follows their performance. 

They marched decently, in good order, 
round the Market-Cross, and came to the 
Church, where they offered their cordial Prayers 
for our most gracious Sovereign ; a Sermon 
being preached at that time. 

From thence my Lord invited all his at¬ 
tendants to his house to dinner. 


RICHMOND. 


357 

1 he Reverend Bishop did the same to all his 
attendants, inviting the Minister and other 
persons to his own house, where they were 
sumptuously entertained. 

The Soldiers marched up to the Cross, where 
they gave many vollies of shot, with push of 
pike, and other martial feats. 

There was erected a scaffold and arbours, 
where the Morris-Dancers and Nymphs acted 
their parts, many thousands of Spectators having 
come out of the country and villages adjacent. 

Two days were spent in acting RoBin Hood. 
The Sheriff and Reverend Bishop sent bottles of 
Sack to several Officers acting in the Play, who 
all performed their parts to the general satis, 
faction of the Spectators, with acclamations 
of joy for the safe arrival of his sacred Ma¬ 
jesty. 

Something more might have been expected 
from the Chief Magistrate of the Town, who 
permitted the Conduit to run water all the 
time. 

The preceding rejoicings were performed by 
the Commonalty of this Borough. 

There was also a Trial before the High 
Court of Justice that morning, when were 
present the Judge, Plaintiff, Defendant, Re- 




308 THE HISTORY OF 


ceiver, Witnesses, and Umpires. After hear¬ 
ing of the whole matter in controversies and 
disputes, the Defendants and Witnesses termi¬ 
nated the dispute in the field with such weapons 
as the place afforded. 

On Midsummer Fve it is usual to have a 
fire, called a bone fire, because generally made 
of bones, or rather it may be a corruption from 
the French bon feu, and for the old and young 
to meet together about them, and play at va¬ 
rious games : but this is now the exercise of the 
younger sort. u The origin of these fires,** 
says Gebelin in his Allegories Orientales, 
4< which so many nations yet preserve, and 
which is lost in antiquity, is very simple. It 
was a fire of joy lighted up at the moment the 
year began ; for the first of all years, the most 
ancient which one has any knowledge of, com¬ 
menced in the month of June. From thence 
the very name of this month, Junior, the 
youngest, which is renewed ; whilst that which 
precedes it, is the month of May, or Major, 
the ancient; also the one was the month of 
young people, the other that of the old.** This 
may also be another reason, and which seems a 
very natural one, why they reckoned this season 


RICHMOND. 


309 


the beginning of the year, from all nature being 
in full vigour, and vegetation in its greatest 
perfection For we find tl at when God cre¬ 
ated the earth and placed man in Paradise, 
fruits and flowers were in abundance to supply- 
all his wants : no appearance of sterility, which 
is attendant upon Winter the month of Janu¬ 
ary. These fires of joy,” he goes on, a were 
accompanied at the same time with vows ami 
sacrifices for the prosperity of the ^tate ; they 
danced also about this fire ; for is there ever a 
fete without-a dance? and the most agile 
leaped over it. On retiring, each took a fire 
brand, and the rest were thrown to the wind, 
that it might carry away every misfortune a9 it 
carried away the ashes. 

u When after a long series of years the 
Summer -solstice- ceased to be the beginning of 
them, they continued however the custom of 
fires at this time, through a train of habit and 
superstitious ideas attached to them; besides 
it would have been grievous to annihilate a day 
of joy at a time when there was so few of them ; 
thus this custom has been handed down to 

US.” 




ARCHERY. 



ri'jiriw . ‘ * M* 

J rn i 

This amusement is kept up here with great 
perseverance and skill. In most nations the bow 
was anciently the principal implement of war, and 
by the expertness of the Archers alone, was often 
decided the fate of battles and empires. In this 
Island, Archery was greatly encouraged, and 
many Statutes were made for its regulation : 
whence the English Archers became the best in 
Europe, and obtained many signal victories. 
The first idea of Archery the English seem to 
have got from the Normans, for William the 
Conqueror had a considerable number of Bow¬ 
men in his army at the battle of Hastings, when 
no mention is made of such troops on the side of 
Harold. The Knglish improved very much 
upon their new model, by substituting the long 
bow for the cross-bow. Of the time when 
shooting with the long bow first came into usg 
among the English, there are no certain ac« 



RICHMOND. 


311 


counts. At the famous battle of Cressy, there 
■were 2000 \rctu i rs in the English army opposed 
to about the same number of French ; and this 
circumstance seems to prove, that at that time 
we used the long bow, whilst the French 
Archers shot with the cross-bow. Previous to 
the engagement, there fell a very heavy shower 
of rain, which damaged the bows of the French 
or rather the strings of them. Now the long 
bow, when unstrung, may be easily covered, 
whereas the cross-bow is of a most inconvenient 
form to be sheltered from the weather. At this 
battle the English attributed their victory chiefly 
to the Archers: and likewise the battles of 
Poictiers and Agincourt were fought and gained 
by the same means. Sometimes the Archers 
gained great victories, without the least as. 
sistance from the men-at-arms, who frequently 
were mere spectators of the valour of the Ar¬ 
chers in keeping the enemy at a distance. 

The dexterity of our Archers gave the Eng¬ 
lish a great superiority over the French and 
Scotch, at that time their greatest enemies. 
The former depended chi fly on their men-at- 
arms, the latter on their pikemen. This supe¬ 
riority was particularly attended to by our 
kings; many of them made very strict laws with 


TUE HISTORY OF 


312 

regard to the structure of the bows, and the 
shooting at butts on Feast Days ; and when 
they omitted this exercise, they were subject 
to a heavy penalty. Though Archery con¬ 
tinued to be encouiaged by the King and Legis¬ 
lature fur more than two centuries after the in¬ 
vention of gunpowder, on account of the un¬ 
wieldiness and weight of the match-locks, yet 
about the end of the reign of Hen it y Vlll.it 
seems to have been partly considered as a pastime. 
However in the 33d.year of it a Statute was made 
for the observance of it, which was particularly 
attended to by the Archers of this Town and 
Neighbourhood, w ho made some time after the 
following Regulations for their future con¬ 
duct. 

Articles agreed upon by the Society of Ar¬ 
chers at Scorton, May 14, 1673, for the 
Regulating ofthe Annual Exercise of shoot¬ 
ing at the Targets for a Silver Arrow. 

Imprimis.... That every person, intending to 
shoot at this or other yearly game for the future, 
shall deposit and pay into the hands of the 
Captain and Lieutenant of the Archers, or of 
some others deputed and appointed by them 
Stewards to the Company of Archers for that 
year, the sum oi hive Shillings, or what other 


RICHMOND. 


313 


sum shall from time to time be concluded and 
agreed upon by the major part of the Archers, 
the same to be done some convenient time be¬ 
fore the general day of meeting to shoot at the 
said Targets, whereof notice to be publicly 
given, to the end that Plate and such other 
Prizes as hereafter mentioned may be had and 
provided indue time. 

II. Upon the day appointed for the said ex¬ 
ercise, all persons concerned, shall repair to 
the place for the said purpose, to be appointed 
by the Captain of the Archers for that present 
year, which place shall always be within six 
miles of Lriholme-upon-Tees, in the County of 
York, unless otherwise resolved and agreed 
upon by the greater number of the Society of 
Archers present at the shooting down of the 
said Targets by 8 o’Clock in the Morning, 
when and where a Note in writing shall be 
taken of those intending to shoot, the Captain 
and Lieutenant excepted, and lots or figures of 
their numbers shall be drawn by some indiffer¬ 
ent person, according to which figures they are 
to observe their several courses and orders in 
shooting for that time : and if an) come after 
the lots are drawn, they shall take their places 

Dd 



314 


THE HISTORY OF 


and shoot after the last figure and according* to 
their coming. 

III. Two Targets shall be then and there 
ready provided by the Captain and Lieutenant 
who hereby are and shall be exempted and freed 
from depositing any sura or sums of money so 
long as either of them shall continue in their 
respective offices, with four circles aptly dis¬ 
tinguished with colours, whereof the innermost 
circle being gilded or yellow, shall be for the 
Captain’s Prize, and the next to that shall be 
for the Lieutenant’s Prize, and the 3d. or 4th. 
or outermost circumferences shall be for such 
Spoons or other Prizes of a greater and less 
value according to the money deposited, as they 
shall be ordered and proportioned by the Cap¬ 
tain, Lieutenant, and three of the Com¬ 
pany of Archers then and there present. 

IV. The said Targets shall be set in some 
open an 1 plain field upon two straw mats or 
basts, breast high from the ground, each being 
distant from the other at least eight score yards, 
at which distance three rounds shall be shot by 
all the company, with what manner of shaft, not 
exceeding two shafts, every one pleaseth, the 
Captain and Lieutenant beginning first, and 
then the rest two and two in order, according 


RICHMOND. 


315 


to their several lots and numbers, till the said 
rounds be shot out at the first stand : afte r 

f 

which, they shall remove in ten yards, and 
shoot three other rounds in the manner afore¬ 
said ; and then remove in ten yards more, and 
shoot three rounds there ; and so forward from 
stand to stand or one removal to another, till all 
the Prizes be gotten or shot down. Provided 
that their said approach to the 'Pargets be never 
nearer than 60 yards, at which distance they 
must stand to shoot them out if not won be¬ 
fore. 

V. Such Person as in his due order and 
place shall pierce or break the Captain’s Prize, 
or any part thereof with his arrow, that is to 
say, so as his arrow or any part theieof shall 
be within the circle dividing between the gold 
and red, shall have the Silver Arrow from the 
rest, and shall be esteemed and adjudged Cap¬ 
tain of the Archers, and shall have and enjoy 
all privileges due and belonging to that office 
during the year ensuing, and further shall have 
Twenty Shillings of such monies as shall be de¬ 
posited by the company of Archers at their next 
Annual Meeting for shooting at the Targets, 
when he shall and must bring in the said Silver 
arrow to be shot for in form and manner above 

D d 2 




316 THE HISTORY OF 

said ; the same to be done and performed yearly 
about Whitsuntide by all the successive Cap¬ 
tains. Also, he who in like manner pierceth 
the Lieutenant’s Prize or circle, shall have 
such Prize or piece of Plate as shall be allotted 
and appointed by the Captain and Lieutenant 
for that time. Likewise, he who pierceth first 
either of the other circumferences, shall have 
one Spoon, or such other Prize as shall be ap¬ 
pointed for the same circle as above said, for 
every arrow wherewith he shall pierce or break 
them, in case all the Prizes belonging to them 
be not gotten before. Also, he who pierceth 
any of the inner circles in manner aforesaid, 
whereout the Prize or Prizes were won before, 
shall have one of the best Prizes remaining 
in the circle next to that which lie shall so 
hit. Provided, that the Spoons and such 
other Prizes, as shall be designed for fh» Fetid 
two outermost circles, shall be of two several 
rates and values, the better of them shall be 
allotted and appointed for the circle and cir¬ 
cumference next to the Lieutenant. 

VI. If any of the company shall presume 
to shoot at the Trrgets out of his due order and 
turn, he shall lose his shot for that round, or 
having shot before, in the next round following: 


RICHMOND. 


317 


and if any be absent from the stand to shoot in 
his turn according to his figure, then the next 
figure there present shall shoot on, that no time 
may be lost, and shall have such Prize as he 
shall then win. Nevertheless such absent figure 
may at his coming to the place of standing, have 
the liberty to shoot during that round, if the 
Captain so please and appoint, either at the 
time of his coming or at the end of the same 
round, provided that he come before the begin 
ning of the next round. 

VII. Fo iiasmuch as the exercise of Ar¬ 
chery is lawful, laudable, healthful, and inno¬ 
cent, and to the end that God’s holy name may 
not be dishonoured by any of that Society, it 
is agreed and hereby declared, that if any one 
of them shall that day curse and swear in the 
hearing of any of that company, and the same 
proved before the Captain and Lieutenant, he 
shall forthwith pay down one Shilling, and so 
proportionably for every oath, tube distributed 
by the Captain to the use of the Poor of that 
place or Township, where they then shoot • 
and in case of refusal or neglect to pay the same, 
then such party to be excluded from shoot¬ 
ing anymore, till pay men t be made as abtfve- 
said. 

D d 3 


318 THE HISTORY OP 


VIII. Alc the Company of Archers shall 
on the day of shooting at the Targets, dine with 
the Captain and Lieutenant at some Ordinary 
appointed for them near the place of shooting ; 
and if any of them shall refuse or neglect so to 
do, or not dine with them, shall pay one Shil¬ 
ling to the Captain or Lieutenant for his Ordi¬ 
nary ; and the party so offending shall lose and 
forfeit the privilege of shooting in the round 
next following after dinner. 

These Articles were signed by 22 Members 
then present. 

It appears from the Archives of the Society, 
that the arrow from this time, with some few 
intervals, has been regularly shot for every 
year, sometimes at Eriholme, Barton, Scorton, 
Darlington, Richmond, Melsonby, Middleton* 
Tyas, Piercebridge, llartforth, Black Bull in 
Leeming-Lane, Yarm, Croft, Hurwortb, Ferry- 
Hill, at the option of the Captain, and the last 
year, (1813) at Richmond. The diameter of 
the gold was sometimes 4 inches, sometimes 3, 
and the Targets placed at various distances du¬ 
ring the time of shooting, at 100 yards, 60, 80, 
70, but now generally at 62 yards. 

There is no Memorandum, from which it 
can be guessed with certainty, by whom the ar. 


RICHMOND. 


319 


row was given ; yet it is generally supposed, 
that it was by some of the ancestors of the Percy 
family. 

St. Swithin, a holy Bishop of Winchester 
about the year 860, and who is called the weep¬ 
ing St. Swithin, for that about his Festival 
rainy constellations arise, which commonly cause 
wet weather ; if it should happen to be un¬ 
clouded and without rain, it is looked upon as 
an omen of fine weather; if the contrary, 
that it will rain 40 days successively ; but 
Gay says, 

“ Let no sych vulgar tales debase thy mind, 

u Nor Paul, nor Swithin rule the clouds or wind.’* 

There are a great many more old customs 
and sayings which might be enumerated, but as 
it would extend this subject farther than can 
possibly be necessary in a work *f this kind, 
they have been omitted; what have been s«* 
lected, are chiefly those which have continued 
from the remote ages of antiquity to the present 
times, and which are the most prevalent, when 
the respective seasons come round. 


WALKS. 


D ESIROUS of conducting the Stranges 
through such parts of the Town as are mote 
immediately connected with its history, and 
which afford the most interesting objects, a 
further account of its walks aud most striking 
views will be of some assistance to the lovers of 
natural beauties. 

The walk up the West. Field is one of the 
most agreeable that can be conceived ; here 
wood, water, and hills are united to variegate 
the scene, and the refreshing breeze with its 
salubrious breath seems to restore exhausted 
nature. On ascending Wuitcliffe Scar, we 
see the convulsions which the surface of this 
globe must have received at the great Deluge, 
when the earth was torn from its centre, and 
rocks, water, and woods, separated from their 
old habitations and removed to a distance. Bold 
craggy rocks project on every side, and wooded 


RICHMOND. 


321 


to the very verge of the precipice, afford plenty 
of subjects for the Draughtsman. From this 
place there is a fine view of Maiiske.Hall, 
formerly belonging to the Conyers, where im¬ 
provements have been made worthy of the ob¬ 
servations of the agriculturist. Thriving Plan¬ 
tations are rising up in every direction, and a 
vast extent of Moor-Land is in a progressive 
state of cultivation. The worthy owner of thi* 
district is not only himself attentive to the great 
tract of country in his own hands, but the pa¬ 
tron of the neighbourhood, by giving Annual 
Premiums to the most deserving in every point 
of good management ; he also is the promoter of 
a Scientific Society at Richmond, of which he 
is President, and where rewards are given for 
the best models of any improvement in Agri- 
cultural implements. 

On the opposite side of the Sliver, the vil¬ 
lage of flu ds w ell has a forlorn appearance, 
but in a few years, from the enclosing of the 
Moor and Waste Lands and from the planting 
of hedges and trees about ii, good crops of corn 
will be produced, where nothing but ling and 
whin used to grow. 

Crossing the top of the hill over the train* 


322 


THE HISTORY OF 


ing-ground to the North, we come to si high 
Mount called the 

BEACON-HILL, 

from a beacon being placed upon it to alarm the 
country in times of public danger. Here no¬ 
thing is necessary, but a clear atmosphere, 
free from the least cloud or mist, when every 
object the eye can reach may be distinct¬ 
ly perceived. From this elevated spot the 
prospect is wonderfully extensive; to the South 
the lofty hills of Wensley-Dale may he seen, 
and Pennel, the highest in Richmondshire ; 
to the North, the County of Durham, where 
Raby.Castle, the seat of Lord Darlington 
appears the most conspicuous. Eastward, in a 
Summer’s afternoon view, and a bright sun 
after a rain, the Tower of II artlepool Church 
is very distinct, and the long range of sea to 
Uedcar; when, if you catch the lucky moment 
of a fleet of Colliers sailing past, the white sails 
of the ships surprise the beholder; with a toler¬ 
able Glass Coatham and Kirk-leatham 
bound the prospect. 

In this direction, at a distance of 30 miles 
from you, there is a view of Easton-Knab, 
HosEBERRY-TorpiNG, which rises up ab- 


RICHMOND. 


323 


ruptly in a conical form to a considerable height, 
and is the crest of the chain, the White Make 
of Wiiiston-Cliff, and a long extent of hills, 
which altogether form a noble aud extensive 
outline. The prospect is terminated by the 
lofty Towers of York Minster, which ap¬ 
pear above the horizon like three long white 
pillars, often buried in mist that blends them 
with the clouds, but when it is dispersed, they 
are very distinctly seen with the naked eye. 
On these hills, the vapour attracted into a 
dense body, is frequently seen floating down 
the sides to the very bottom, and rising again, 
either vanishes in a falling shower, or mixing 
with the mass of air totally disappears. This 
range of mountains is formed by a succession of 
separate and distinct hills, the nearest each 
other in situation and height; they are divided 
by a number of rich and well cultivated vallies, 
through which several rivulets flow, and a va¬ 
riety of roads made to different parts of the 
Wolds : the rugged summits of these being in¬ 
termixed and softened by the great distance 
that we are from them, appear like one con¬ 
tinued hill, without any interruption or any of 
those sharp j,*ojecting rocks, which are seen on 
a nearer inspection. The intervening scene 


324 THE HISTORY OF 


ever Cleveland and the great plain of Mowbray, 
is not more extensive than full of variety, 
comprising woods, villages, churches, corn- 
fields, intermixed with Farm-Houses, and every 
thing which can make a country valuable. 

Jn a Charter of Edward IV. mention is 
made of a Mineral or Mine of Copper, near 
the very City of Richmond, which is supposed 
to be at this place. These Mines have been 
worked at various times, as appears from a 
lease for 21 years, under a yearly Kent of 40s. 
grantedin 1668 by William Wetwang, Mayor, 
and the Aldermen, to Charles, Lord St. 
John, of all their Mines, Pits, and veins of 
Lead and Coal, lying in the Town Pasture of 
Whitcliffe or Whitcliffe Wood, and within the 
Commons belonging the Borough. And from 
a lease for 21 years, dated 1697, at the Annual 
Rent of40s, from the Mayor and Aldermen to 
Thomas Y orre, Esq. Francis Black burne, 
and Others, of all their Lead Mints or veins 
of Lead Ore, opened or not opened, lying in 
the Moor or Common called Whitcliffe Pas¬ 
ture, or in any of the wastes belonging to them. 
And from a lease, dated 1718, to William 
Davise and Caleb Headsiiaw from the Mayor 


RICHMOND* 



and Aldermen, with the consent of the major 
part of the free Burgesses, of all their Veins, 
Mines, Rakes, and Floats of Lead and Copper 
Ore, and all other M inerals whatsoever, lying 
in a Common Moor, called Whitcliffe Pasture, 
for the term of21 years, under the payment of 
Is. 5d. for every 20s. that the Lead or Copper 
Ore, or the smelted or refined Lead or Copper 
should be sold for, without any charge or ex- 
pence to the said Mayor and Aldermen. In 
1740, proposals were offered by Francu 
Lodge to the Mayor and Aldermen, and by 
them accepted, for a Mining Lease of their 
royalties at every tenth dish of Lead Ore 
washed and ready for smelting, or every eleventh 
piece of Pig Lead ready for Market; and at 
Fight Pounds for every Ton weight of refined 
or Marketable Copper, on usual liberties for 
working, &c. but the said proposals were not 
carried into a lease as offered. In 1750, pro. 
posals were offered by Ralph Close to th« 
May or and Aldermen, for a Mining Lease of 
their royalties , to pay and yield a duty of every 
tenth Pig of lead smelted and ready for Market, 
and to pay j6'10. in cash for every Ton of re¬ 
fined or Marketable Copper. A little time 
since, these workings were renewed, but now 


330 


T1IE HISTORY OF 


discontinued for want of a sufficient supply ol 
ore to answer the great expences. 

On descending the hill the GRAND STAND 
appears, a handsome, modern Structure, pro¬ 
perty adapted for its purpose : it was built by 
subscription about 40 years ago, in shares of 
5s. each ; for every share subscribed a 
Silver Ticket was given, which admits the holder 
into the Stand during the Races, and which is 
transferable. Temporary Tickets are issued 
every year at 10s. 6d. each, which are only 
valid for the Paces of that Season. 

1He Races were formerly badly attended and 
the Prizes of very little amount ; Cups, Tank¬ 
ards, small pieces of Plate from Ten to Thirty 
Pounds value, from this the Prizes got the 
name of Plates, and one of them, according 
to the old custom at York, a little golden 
Bell, which was tied on the forehead of the 
winning horse; whence no doubt comes the Pro¬ 
verb, u to bear away the bell.” 

Richmond Races were first set on foot about 
100 years since, and for a time discontinued, 
but about 55 years ago were renewed, when a 
collection was made through the Town to pur¬ 
chase Plates to be run for. Hors^ Races for 


RIO H MON D. 


these small sums having encouraged idleness 
among the lower order of People, ir was en¬ 
acted by the 13th of George i(. ,4 That no 
44 Plate was to be run for under £ 50 . on the pe. 
44 nalty of £500. ; and that every Horse-it ace 
44 must be begun and ended in the same day,” 
The custom of collecting for one of the Prizes 
still continues, which is called the Town-Purse; 
the Members of Parliament give another, and 
the King’s 100 Guineas for mares every other 
year; this last was formerly a Gold Cup, now- 
changed into money ; but the greatest of all is 
the Gold Cup, valued at 100 Guineas and up¬ 
wards, which is raised by subscription among 
the competitors ; this oue being the great in¬ 
ducement to draw company to the Town, as 
generally contested for by the best horses, is 
run for on the second Day. 

The High Moor was formerly the place of 
contest, but many years since it was moved 
lowter down to better ground, which, being 
properly levelled at a great expence, is looked 
upon as one of the best in the North for trying 
the goodness of a horse’s bottom. The form 
being ova), and the company in the midst, the 
Spectators, with a very little interval, never 
lose sight of the Racers. This diversion, what- 

E e % 





338 


THE HISTORY OF 


ton, from thence chiefly to London, and in timeii 
«>i Peace to the Ports in the Baltic. 

f; ; . ,i ■ t ' . . * ■ T * 1 i tit'-' 

The Country round about is fertile, well 
wooded, and interspersed with a variety of 
Noblemen’s and Gentlemen’s Seats, and very 
populous in the true support of a country, a 
wealthy and industrious Yeomanry. Plenty of 
corn of every description is weekly brought to 
the Markets, which the Badgers from the 
Dales eagerly buy up, and by that means make it 
one of the greatest Corn*Markets in England. 
The Society is good, chiefly composed of per¬ 
sons of independent fortunes, who at a moderate 
rate enjoy all the advantages of a polished and 
agreeable intercourse ; and no where can a 
Stranger, well recommended, find more civil¬ 
ity and every proper attention. 

The Annual valuation of property in the 
Parish of Richmond was in 1813, lands and 
houses ^8,746, and personals j£ 4,570 ; and 
the amount of the Assessed Taxes was. Win- 
dows^£756. 10s. 9d. inhabited houses 2501. 16s. 
lOd. ; servants 2611.; carriages 2041. 9s. 
horses 4231. 7s. 6d.; husbandry ditto, 951. 4s.; 
dogs 631. 3s.; armorial bearings 161. 16s. ; 


RICHMOND. 339 

hair.powder 22 1. 6s. 6d. : game-dub 58 1 16s. 
All these Taxes are gradually increasing. 


This place is not remarkable for arty public 

event of consequence, being happily situ, 
ated in a country, where the thinness of the 
population and the want of Manufactories give 
no occasion for those tumultous risings of the 
people on a stagnation of Trade. Sometimes 
the Miners in the Dales have been troublesome 
on a scarcity of corn, and have come to Rich¬ 
mond in a riotous, threatening manner, but 
these trifling disturbances have been soon sup¬ 
pressed. 

In 1569 a bold conspiracy was set an foot 
by Thomas Percy, Earl of Northumberland, 
againstQueen Elizabeth: his intentions were 
to restore the Catholick Religion, and ad¬ 
vance Mary Queen of Scots to the English 
Throne. The Rebellion began in the North ; 
they marched to Darlington, and on their forces 
encreasing, came to Richmond, but did not 
s tay long ; from hence they went to Rippon, 
and after various marches in every direction, 
they thought fit to retire to Hexham, where 

F f 2 



334 THE HISTORY OF 


they were defeated, and the Earl beheaded at 
York the August following. 


In 1723 Gale’s 44 Honours of Richmond,’’ 
were given to the Corporation by Francis 
Nicholson, Esq. Captain.General and Governor 
of South Carolina, who was born at Downholm, 
near this place ; as a return for this favour, at a 
Meeting of the Mayor, Aldermen, and Common 
Council of this Borough, held in the Town-Hall 
November 26, 1725, the Freedom of the Cor. 
poration was unanimously voted to him. 

During the Rebellion in 1745^ the public 
spirit of the Inhabitants was manifested by a 
liberal subscription, not only for the peace and 
security of this Town and County, but for the 
general defence of the Kingdom. Companies 
of foot were raised, which, joined to the troops 
of horse commanded by the country Gentlemen, 
made a very formidable appearance. Happily 
the danger was removed from this place by the 
rebels marching to the South in a Western di¬ 
rection; and the only inconvenience that was 
experienced here, was the custody of the Scotch 
Prisoners on their removal to the North ; many 


RICHMOND. 


327 


of them were confined in the Grammar School, 
others in Trinity Chapel. 

The Inhabitants of this Town, ever memo¬ 
rable for their loyalty to their King, and at¬ 
tachment to the Constitution of their Country, 
have always stepped forward in times of public 
danger, and associated themselves into compa¬ 
nies of Volunteers, either actiug by them¬ 
selves, or joining the neighbouring Townships: 
unhappily for this country, they have too often 
of late years been called upon • for no sooner 
were they disembodied in 1802, than they were 
again enrolled just after the commencement of 
the last war, when they joined themselves to 
the inhabitants of Calterick under the command 
of the late Sir John Lawson, Mart, and were 
highly distinguished for the ir discipline', an l 
laudable zeal in the discharge of their duty. 
This spirit of volunteering has been superseded 
by the establishment of the Local Militia, 
which plan has been found from experience more 
calculated for keeping up the effective strength 
of the Regiments, by subjecting the delinquents 
to military law for non attendance, and making 
the men enter into engagements for lour years. 
This place is the Head-Quarters of (he First 

F fa 


342 THE HISTORY OF 


and Second North.York Regiments of Local 
Militia, where the Stores of the two Regiments 
are lodged, and where the men have been train¬ 
ed at the Annual Meetings. 

On October 23, 180(1, His Royal High, 
ness the Prince of Wales and the IHt-ke of 
Clarence with their suite, arrived at Aske 
the Seat of Lord Dundas. The next day the 
Prince, attended by a large cavalcade, visited 
the Borough of Richmond; he rode through 
the Market-Place and with the greatest conde¬ 
scension returned the salutations of a large con¬ 
course of people assembled upon the occasion. 
After attentively viewing with much satisfac¬ 
tion the Tower, the ruins of the Castle, and 
the several prospects from the Castle-Yard, the 
Magistrates of the Borough took the opportu¬ 
nity of being introduced to his Royal Highness, 
requesting an hour to be fixed upon for receiv¬ 
ing an Address from the Corporation : Eleven 
o’Clock the next day was appointed. The 
Mayor, Dr. Hutchinson, accompanied by the 
Recorder, the Rector, and Town-Clerk, re* 
paired to Aske at the proper time, and about 
One o’Clock the Prince, surrounded by many 
Ladies and Gentlemen, received from the Mayor 


RICHMOND. 343 

the following Address, to which he was pleased 
to deliver the subjoined Answer : 

To If IS ROYAL HIGHNESS GEORGE' 
PRINCE of WALES. 

4 

*■ May it please your Royal Highness, 

44 JVe the Mayor and Alderaies\oJ the 
‘ 4 ancient Borough of Richmond, beg leave to 
46 approach your august Person with the most 
44 fervent assurances of our devoted attachment 
44 to your Royal Highness, as the Jleir apparent 
44 to the Throne of this great, free, and united 
44 Kingdom . 

“ Next to those sentiments of loyalty, 
44 zohich in common with the rest of our fellow 
/ Subjects zee owe and are happy to profess, we 
“ entreat your Royal Highness will permit us 
44 to testify our peculiar sense of joy and gratis 
44 tude for the distinguished mark of condescend 
“ sion bestowed on our ancient Borough by the 
“ personal visit of your Royal Highness. 

44 While we thus make known to your 
44 Roual Highness those emotions of Pride and 
« 4 Pleasure, which so gratifying an occasion 
44 calls forth, to the amiable manners, which 
44 adorn your Royal Highness's private cha» 
44 racier , we trust for our excuse , if we congra - 


344 THE HISTORY OF 


44 tulate ourselves and our countrymen on those 
u public virtues in the Heir apparent , to which 
44 the British Empire looks forward for the con-. 
4f tinuance of its happiness and its glory, 

,4 We are rejoiced then , may it please 
i6 your Royal Highness, to reflect , that the 
44 principles natural and hereditary to the Ulus - 
44 trious House of Brunswick , /Ae principles of 
i( Civil and Religious liberty , which form the 
44 brightest gem in the crown of your Royal 
* 4 Father , «re known to be congenial to your 
44 Royal Highness's heart , Aare ecer <?#- 

44 perienced from your Royal Highness the most 
44 conspicuous patronage and support, 

44 Me same Ma/ deliver to 
44 your Royal Highness this grateful testimony 
44 of our feelings, we should be deficient in duty 
44 which we owe to your illustrious Brother the 
“ Duke of Clarence, if zse did not add tJie assu • 
44 ranee of his sharing in all those affections of 
44 loyalty and attachment which we have the 
44 satisfaction of conveying to your Royal High• 
44 ness,” 

u To the MAYOR and ALDERMEN of the ancient 
BOROUGH of RICHMOND. 

“ I feel with the truest pride the motives by 
“ which you are actuated, in the testimonies of personal 


RICHMOND. 


345 


“ respect with which I have been received in your a n~ 
" dent Borough, as T am sensible, that they flow from 
“ the love which you bear to our glorious Constitution, 

‘ and that in this proof of your attention to me, you 
“ manifest vonr loyalty to the King my Father and tf 
i( my family. 

t( Gentlemen, my interests as well as my feelings 
i( in this respect are the same as your own, and 1 can 
ii answer to you, that it shall ever be my dearest soli - 
“ citude to further, as far as maybe in my power the 
“ welfare and happiness of my country. 

“ In these sentiments I am most heartily j oined 
i( by my brother the Duke of Clarence, and in the 
‘‘ high respect I entertain for your very ancient Bo- 
“ rough’* 

After the Procession returned to Richmond, 
the Members who composed it, received an 
invitation to dine at Aske, which was accepted: 
and they returned home very much gratified with 
the polite reception and elegant manners of his 
Royal Highness. Lord Dundas entertained the 
neighbouring families in the most splendid 
mariner, while the Prince staid at Aske. 

RICHMOND BOUNDARIES as the same 
were ridden and claimed by the Worshipful 
Joseph Coates, Esq. Mayor, accompanied by 
several of the Aldermen and Common Council, 


346 THE HISTORY OP 


and a great number of the Freemen and Inhabi¬ 
tants of the said Borough, the 24tb of March, 
1739. 

Beginning in the middle stream of the River 
Swale at a place called Hind Wath in Low- 
Bank House Ing, thence up the length of Road 

•' ■ e Vi • f\ i < ■ • ■ • > * 

Dike to the Summit or Top of Breckon Field 
to the Ditches of the Lands formerly belonging 
to Mr. Aske, and now to the Right Honour- 
- able Sir Conyers D’Arcy ; by Oliver Tower 
into the lane leading from Richmond to Gilling, 
then into Hiqii-East Gill, all along the 
School lands of Richmond aforesaid, on the 
South part or side of the Fences or Ditches be¬ 
longing to Aske, to the West side of the lane 

leading froth Richmond to Kirby-Hill, and 
down the same to Badger Wath at Aske 
Beck, and up the said Beck on the South side 
thereof into Wiiitcliffe Pasture, so forward 
up the said Beck to Colesgarth Gate leading 
into the Moor or Common, and still up the said 
Beck or run of Water to the Seal Potts, then 
along the Seal Potts (being a length of many 
shake holes) near to the South-West end of 
Feldom Rigg where are three stones, suppo¬ 
sed to he the Meeting of Richmond, Ravens - 
worth, and Aske Boundaries, thence to a Hvr- 


RICHMOND. 


347 


sack of Stones near the top of Deepdale, and 
so down Deepdale to Salmon Gill, so down 
Salmon Gill to the middle stream of the River 
Swale aforesaid, from thence to Hind Wath 
where the Riding was begun, being claimed and 
declared to be the Boundary of Richmond afore, 
said on the South part thereof. 


J. Coates, Mayor, 
James Close. 
Robert Wilson, 

C. Readshaw, Jun. 
Edward Fisher. 
John Brockell* 
Henry Cowling*. 


Cuth bert Cowling. 
Henry Nicholls. 
Marmaduke Bowes, 
Wm. Hutchinson. 
Cutht. Readshaw. 
Ralph Close. 


This Town has lately been enriched by a va. 
luable collection of Paintings and a number of 
finely executed Engravings from its having 
become the place of residence of a gentleman 
Well skilled in these matters. Two large rooms 
in his house, besides other apartments, are 
particularly appropriated for this purpose, where 
they have been arranged in beautiful order, and 
with great attention to light and shade. These 
Paintings have been selected with great taste 
and judgement from the original works of the 


348 THE HISTORY OF 


most distinguished Masters of the Old Schools, 
and Prio u-H ouse will al ways afford a high gra¬ 
tification to the admirers of the fine arts, as be¬ 
ing the repository of some of their best speci¬ 
mens. 

There are also some other capital Paintings 
in the Town belonging to certain individuals, 
which deserve attention for their various ex¬ 
cellencies. 

• . 

As the Hostler at the King's Head in this 
place was going over a ploughed field in White, 
field Farm the 17th of June last, he found a 
Gold Coin of Edward IV. This King in the 
5th year of his reign (1466) caused a new Gold 
Coinage of Nobles to be made of the value of 
Ten Shillings, which he also called Rials, or 
Rial Nobles, as being no longer a Noble in 
value : These with a little difference are like 
the old Nobles of Edward III. made in 1345; 
who, to commemorate a great Naval victory 
over the French Fleet in 1340, the greatest 
that had ever been obtained at Sea by the Eng¬ 
lish, and the first where a King of England had 
commanded in person, caused a few years after 
a famous Coin to be struck, and called it a 
Noble, as being the best money then extant, 
and of the value of 6s. 8d. 


RICHMOND. 


349 


As this Coin will answer our purpose, and 
give a very good account of the one found, a 
description of it shall be given, with the alter¬ 
ation and addition made to it by Edward IV. 

The Ring- is represented as Sovereign of the 
Seas, standing triumphantly in a Ship, com¬ 
pletely armed, the Crown upon his head, a 
naked Sword in his right hand, and a shield in 
his left, whereon, as asserting his title to France, 
he quarters the Arms of that Kingdom, viz. 
seme de-lis in the 1st and 4th quarter, with the 
Arms of England in the 2d and 3d. the first 
instance of quartering Arras by our Kings upon 
their Coins, and the first money, whereon the 
Arms of England appear, viz. three Lions in 
pale passant guardant. 

Upon the side of the ship, towards the bottom, 
are three rows of bolts with projecting heads, 
something like guns, and above them in another 
row are three Lions of England and four fleurs- 
de-lis, a fleur-de-lis and a Lion alternately. 
As these Nobles bear the Arms of France, they 
have the title of France upon them in Saxon 
characters, 44 EDWARD. DJ. G-RA. lltiX, 
ANuL. Z. FRANC. DNS. HYB.” So far 
the Nobles of Edward IV. are in every re¬ 
spect like this, except having three tleur de- 



330 


THE HISTORY OF 


lis instead of a seme-de-lis and being a little 
broader, and with the addition of having at the 
stern of the ship a square flag displayed from a 
lofty pole, on which is the initial Saxon Letter 
E, and a Rose upon the side of the ship, dif* 
ferent from all the Nobles coined before, 
from which they got the name of Rose-Nobles 
or Rose Rials. 

Reverse. A cross flory, with fleur-de-lis 
at the points, and a Lion of England under a 
Crown in each quarter, aud the Letter E within 
a small Rose in the centre ; all within a com¬ 
partment called a Rose of eight parts or leaves, 
and surrounded with this epigraphe in the same 
kind of Letters, “ 1 US. AUTEM. TRAN- 
SIENS. PER. MEDIUM. ILLORUM. I- 

9 

BAT alluding to the wonderful preservation 
of the King, who passed unhurt through the 
midst of his enemies in that extraordinary fight, 
wherein the French are said to have lost 30,000 
men. Instead of the cross, the coin of Ed¬ 
ward IV. has a Sun with a Rose in the centre. 
The White Rose being the old badge of the 
House of York, the Sun was taken by the King 
for his device after the Battle of Mortimer’s 
Cross, when three Suns are said to have ap. 
peared before the battle, and suddenly joined 


RICHMOND. 


351 


in one : taking this for a happy omen, and be¬ 
coming victorious, he made the exchange : af¬ 
terwards joining these two devices into one, he 
ever after used them for his cognizance, and set 
it upon this coin. 

The Flag at the stern and the Rose on the 
side of the ship, with the Rose in the centre of 
the Sun on the reverse, will always distinguish 
the Noble of Edward l V. from (hat of Ed* 

W A It D 111. 

The Coin found, weighs 4 dwts. 23 grains, 
and if we take the standard as settled in the 5:fi 
year of Edward I V. when n pound of gold was 

raised to £ 22 . 10s. by making out oi it 4o Rose 
Nobles, each 10 Shillings in value and weighing 
5 dwts. 8 grains, this coin will only have lost 
9 grains of its original weight. It appears still 
very fresh, and has not suffered much from lying 
in the ground, the edge being only a little bat. 
tered, perhaps by the plough. 


On lately digging the foundation of a Garden 
Wall at the West end of the Castle Bank, a 
little below Apedale’s House, (Todd's) a Ring 
was found among some ashes, which from their 
appearance seem to have been thrown out of the 

G g 2 


352 


THE HISTORY OF 


Castle some ages back, and in all probability 
this Ring along with them. It appears to be a 
composition of brass and copper, and has upon 
it a Seal with the impression of a Goose, look¬ 
ing back as if ularmed, and having the tip of its 
wings elevated and feet extended as in the act 
of running away. The Ring is very large, and 
has probably been worn on the thumb by the 
Warder of the Castle as a badge of office. The 
impression, an emblem of watchfulness, alludes 
no doubt to the History of Rome. After that 
city had been taken by the Gauls, Manlius 
retired into the Capitol with a body of his 
countrymen, and being suddenly attacked in 
the night by the enemy, these birds with their 
cackling awakened him in time to arm himself 
and drive back the enemy. Upon tlie rim are 
engraven three Roses, one with five petals in 
the centre, and one on each side of the Seal with 
three long calyx leaves. The ring is in good 
preservation, and in the possession of a very 
worthy Clergyman of this place, to whom the 
Garden belongs. 

Since the description of the Castle was print¬ 
ed, an excavation has been made in the Castle- 
Yard near the East Tower, in order to find eu< 


RICHMOND. 


353 


the entrance into it from the Court : though the 
hole is about six yards deep, theie is no ap¬ 
pearance of any entrance that way ; the plan 
was then altered, and a trial made in the 
inside of the Tower, when a subterraneous pas¬ 
sage was discovered, which leads into some con¬ 
cealed vaults under the apartments near the 
Hall of Scollaud ; the passage is so filled up 
with rubbish, that it will take some time to 
clear it away, which is now going on. 

G g 3 






AN ACCOUNT 


OF 

THE BARER 

PLANTS AND SHRUBS, 

I NT THE 

NEIGHBOURHOOD of RICHMOND , 


ran 

JL O describe all the Plants thatgrow in this 
Neighbourhood, and which are to be found in 
most parts of it, would be an useless and almost 
an endless work, yet a List of the rarer ones, 
with the places where they are to be met with, 
may neither be unacceptable nor uninteresting 
particularly to the Botanical reader ; 

Adoxa Moschatellina, Moschatel, on the foot-road going 
to Aske-IIall. 

Asperula odorata, sweet-scented Woodroof, in Billy- 
Bank Wood. 

Aspleniuni Ruta-Mur aria> Wall Rue, on the old W^alls 
near the Church. 



RICHMOND. 355 

Asplenium Adiantum Nigrum, Black Maiden Hair, in 
Billy-Rank. 

Ant In/Ills V ulneraria, Kidney Vetch. 

Aphanes Arvensis, Parsley Piert, by the foot-path going 
to Aske. 

Campanula Lati/olia, broad leaved Bell Flower, in 
the Abbey Wood. 

Chcnopodium Bonus-Henricus, English Mercury, or 
Wild Spinage, 

Chironia Centaurinm, Lesser Centory, Ilank-IIouse 
lug. 

Circa;a Lutetiana, Enchanter’s Nightshade, Billy Bank 
Wood. 

Chrysospleniinn Oppositifoliion , Golden Saxifrage, near 
the Paper-Mill. 

Clinopodium Vulgaris , Wild Basil, Clink Bank. 

Cistus Ilclianthemum , Dwarf Cestus, near Whitcliffe 
Factory. 

Colchicum Autumnale, Meadow Saffron, in the West 
Field. 

Conium Maculatum, Hemlock, in Garstell Banks. 

Cynoglossum officinalis, Hound’s Tongue, in the l,anes 
about Richmond. 

Dacus carota, Wild Carrot, near Whitcliffe Factory. 

Dajthne Laureola, Spurge Laurel, Clink Bank. 

Digitalis Purpurea, Purple Fox Glove, on the Race- 
Ground. 

Dipsacus Pilosus, Shepherd’s Staff or small Teasel, Ab¬ 
bey Wood. 

Epilobium Hirsntum, great Hairy Willow Herb, Clink 
Bank. 


356 THE HISTORY OF 

Erysimum Bafbarca, Yellow Rocket 01* Winter Cress, 
near the Castle and Church Mills. 

Eupatormm cannabinum, Hemp Agrimony, near Clink 
Bank Spring. 

Echium Vulgare, Yiper’s Bugloss, on the Castle Walls. 

Genista Anglica , Needle Furze, on the High-Moor. 

Gentiana Amarella, Autumnal Gentian, on the Race- 
Ground. 

Geuvi Rivale, Water A yens or Bennet, Abbey Wood. 

Geum Urbanum, Common A veils, in most of the Woods. 

Inula dysentcrica, Middle Elecampane, on the Batts. 

Lapsana communis , Common Nipplewort, Clink-Bank 
Spring. 

Lathrcea Squamaria, Great Toothwort, Round How, 
on the East side. 

Malta Moschata, Musk Mallow, Lanes near the Town. 

Mclampyrum Pratense, Meadow Cow Wheat, Abbey 
Wood. 

Nepeta Cataria, Nep or Cat Mint, Lane to Brompton. 

Ononis Spinosa, Thorny Rest-harrow. 

Ojjhioylossum Vulgatum, Adder’s Tongue, Round How, 
East side. 

Ophrys Ovata, Tway Blade, Billy Bank. 

Osmunda Lunar ia, Moonwort, Round How, East side. 

Orchis Bifolia, Butterfly Orchis, near the Round How. 

Parietaria officinalis, Pellitory of the Wall, Castle 
Walls. 

Paris Quadrifolia, Herb Paris, Abbey Wood. 


RICHMOND. 



Parnassia Palustris, Crass of Parnassus, West Field. 
Primula Farinosa, Bird’s Eye Primrose. 

Pyrola Rolundifolia, Winter Green, Iron Banks. 
Polygonum Bistorla, Great Bistort, West Field. 
Ramnus catharticus, Buck Thorn, Hedges ahovt 
Skeeby. 

Reseda Lnteola, Wild Woad or Dyer’s Weed, behind 
the Castle near the River. 

Rhodiola Rosea, Yellow Rosewort, Clink Bank. 

Rosa Spinosissima, Burnet Rose. 

Rosa Villosa , two varieties, Apple Rose, with large 
prickly hips. 

Ruhus Ulceus , Raspberry Bush. 

Sanicula Europtea, Sani'le Wood, about Richmond. 
Sambucns Ebulus, Dwarf Elder. 

' 1 . 4 . 

Soponaria officinalis, Soapvvort, Castle Bank. 

Stachys Palustris, Clown’s Woundwort. 

Symphytum officinalis, Comfrey. 

Sisymbrium Sophia, Flixweed. 

Sium August ifolium, Water Parsnep. 

Solidago virgaurea, Golden Rod. 

Taxus Baccata, Yew Tree, WhitclifFe Wood. 

Tcucrium Scorodonia, Wood Sage, or Sage Germander, 
Clink Bank. 

Tragopogon Pratense, Yellow Goat’s Beard, West- 
Field. 

Trollus Europceus , Globe Flower, two fields North- 
West of Round IIovv. 

Valeriana Locusta, Lettuce Valerian. 

Verbena officinalis, Vervain, near Skeeby. 




358 THE HISTORY OF 


Having in the preceding treatise made a 
sketch of the Town and Parish of Richmond, 
with part of its Neighbourhood, and collected 
most of the observations that were to be got 
upon the subjects worthy of attention, the Edi¬ 
tor now closes his Winter’s amusements ; and 
flatters himself, that if he has added any variety 
to the general stuck of information, the few 
errors which may have escaped his notice, will 
be kindly overlooked. As a difference of opin¬ 
ion may arise upon some of the subjects, now 
brought forward, it may very honestly be said, 
that there never was an intention of interfering 
or finding fault with the present mode of pro. 
ceeding in any department whatever, for abuses 
will arise in the best established institutions. 
To those who dissent from him inany particular, 
he will only say, that he has given his opinion 
as he thought it was the best supported, without 
any regard whatever to the private views or 
interests of any persou whatever, and shall con¬ 
clude with Horace 

Si quid novisti reciius istis, 

Candidus ircperti $ si non, his utere meeum. 


APPENDIX, 

No. I. 

SEE PAGE 97. 


V 

ORIGIN OF MORTUARIES IN RICHMOND 

SHIRE. 


nr here were anciently men very devout to¬ 
wards God, and munificent to Holy Mother 
Church, large and liberal in giving Tithes, of¬ 
ferings and oblations, and in discharging other 
debts : always assiduous and benevolent in build¬ 
ings and reverences of Churches, and in all 
other and singular things, which conld be agree¬ 
able to God and their own souls. But the devil 
envying this, among other abuses one sprang 
up, namely, concerning the goods of dead men 
accumulated by their executors for their own 
use. Wherefore certain Parishioners of the 
Church of St. Kuraald (Romaldkirk) in the vale 





SCO 


T!!E ins TORY OP 


of Tetse, within the Archdeaconry of Rich¬ 
mond, though rude and brutal in manners, hav¬ 
ing consulted together, unanimously agreed that 
they would ior the sake of their souls assign to 
the Church, and give it before their death quiet 
possession of a certain portion of their goods, 
which their executors should not be able to sub¬ 
tract or detain from the Church. I he aforesaid 
men then went together to the R< ctor of the 
said Church, and explained to him very fully 
the cause cf such their resolution. The Hector 
said, u 1 am unwilling to receive a proposal of 
this sort, lest by chance your successors here¬ 
after should refuse or be unwilling to perform 
your wishes ; and the Church willing to exact a 
tiling gratuitously offer* d it, on this account no 
little strife and contention may arise. There¬ 
fore return, and take better and the holiest 
counsel with mature deliberation, because if 
before witnesses produced for this purpose you 
intend to persevere in such resolution, neither 
you or your successors for the future will be 
able to thwart ycur grant, or by any means in. 
fringe it,” Therefore the aforesaid men re. 
turning a second and third time, said, that they 
and their successors would peiform the said re¬ 
solution with effect and without any contradic¬ 
tion. Then at last the Rector, in the presence 
of counsel and requisite witnesses then present, 
jfceived and peaceably had, retained and oc¬ 
cupied a portion of all and singular the goods of 
men departing within his Parish, 't he fame of 
such a grant being heard, and every w here di¬ 
vulged, other Parishioners, thinking wholesomely 
lor the repose of their souls, proctedtd to grant 


RICHMOND. 


361 


the same to their own Churches, and the por¬ 
tion encreased and proceeded even to this day, 
not by desire or unjust exaction or extortion of 
the ecclesiastical Rectors, but only from mere 
liberality and spontaneous grant of the Pa¬ 
rishioners. This custom in process of time came 
to this, namely, that besides one of the best 
cattle, which they enjoyed before by the custom 
of the kingdom of England, the Minister took 
another best, and had besides the ninth part of 
the goods of the deceased, where there was a 
wife or an heir left; and where there was a wife 
and no heir, or heir and no wife, then a sixth 
part. 

After & long time was elapsed, there arose 
certain Parishioners of the said Archdeaconry 
along with the principal men, who refused to 
pay or render a portion of such a sort, from 
whence no moderate strife began to arise. The 
cause was sent in 1254 to the Court of Rome, 
and by a decree of the Pope transmitted to Eng¬ 
land to determine ; which when the Proctors of 
the parties were not able to finish, again it was 
proposed to the Court of Rome to determine. 
But Lord Peter of Savoy, then Earl of Rich¬ 
mond, interposing, that strife was finally put at 
rest before Lord John, Dean of the Arches of 
St. Mary at London, and others, a3 is manifest 
by the following composition, which was sub¬ 
mitted to by all parties, u That for the future, 
the Minister should have no share of utensils, 
such as ploughs, &c. or such things as were 
made ready for eating or drinking, or of ready 
money, or of gold or silver vessels or ornaments; 
that he should but take one of the best cattle ; 

11 h 


THE HISTORY OF 


362 

that when the deceased had a wife and children, 
the wife should have one third part of the goods, 
the children another ; and of the remaining one 
third part, which belonged to the deceased, one- 
fourth part should go to the Church ; where 
there was a wife and no children, or children 
and no wife, the wife or children should have 
one half, and the Church one-fifth of the other 
half ; and where the person died without ei¬ 
ther wife or children, a sixth-part of his goods 
should go to the Church, that is, to the Rector, 
Vicar, or Curate of the Parish.” 

The exactions of the Clergy in the Archdea¬ 
conry of Bichmond being complained of with 
regard to these Mortuaries, they were taken 
away by Act of Parliament the 26th of HEN¬ 
RY VIII. v 


APPENDIX, No. II. 

SEE PAGE 108. 

GRANT of ALAN III. of the BOROUGH of RICH 
MOND to the BURGESSES of the same. 

i U * *■ lii t * 2 • 

From the Original in the possession of the Mayor 
and Aldermen , August 19, 1665. 

See Dugdale’s Visitation of York in the Herald’s Of¬ 
fice, London. 


ALAN, Earl of Bretagne and England, to 
the Steward of his Household, Constable, 




RICH MOND. 


26-3 


and to all his Barons, and to all his French 
and English men, greeting, 

I WILL that it be made known to you, that 
I have granted and given for ever to my 
Burgesses of Richmond my Borough and Land 
of Fontenay in Fee-Farm, bv paying to me 
Twenty.Nine Pounds in every year. A nd L 
Will that they do hold the same well and freely 
and honourably, in plains and in woods, in 
pastures and in waters, in meadows anti in all 
places, and that they and their heirs hold and 
have it of me and my heirs. 

Witn esses. --Scol land, Robert the Cham¬ 
berlain, Eudo Sheriff, Agharias, Theobald 
the Chaplain, Roger of Aske, Copsi,, Bald¬ 
win. 


APPENDIX, No. III. 

SEE PAGE 109. 


Grant of the same , of the Liberties and Customs 
to the same Burgesses , which then had under 
his Uncle Alas and his Father Stephen , 
Earls of Richmond . 

ALAN, Earl of England and Bretagne, to 
the Steward of his Household and Sheriff, 
and to all his Barons French and English. 

B E it known to you, that 1 have granted 
and given to my Burgesses of Kichrtiond 1 

II h 2 



364 THE HISTORY OF 


that liberty which they had in the time of my 
Uncle Earl Alan, and in the time of my Father 
Karl Stephen. And I Will, that they well and 
in peace and quietness hold and have their pos¬ 
sessions with all their free customs, in the Town 
and without the Town, in plains and in woods, 
and wheresoever they be 1 give and grant to 
them my firm peace, and if any should trespass 
against them, let them come to me, or to the 
Steward of my Household, that he may support 
them and do them right in my place. 

Witnesses.Conan Archdeacon, Scol- 

l and, Roald the Constable, Hugh son of 
Gernagot, Alan the Butler, Brian son of 
ScOLLAND, BalDEWIN of MOULTON, AlOUS, 

•fee. 


APPENDIX, No. IV. 

SEE PAGE 109. 

Earl Conan* a Confirmation oj his Liberties to 
the Burgesses of Richmond . 


CONAN, Duke of Beetaone and Earl of 
Richmond, to the Steward of his Household 
and Chamberlain, and to all his Ministers 
and Barons, and to all his men French and 
English greeting, 

E it known to you all, that I have granted, 
and by this my Charter have confirmed to 





RICHMOND. 


385 


(he Burgesses of Richmond, that they have the 
same customs and those liberties, which they 
had and held in the time of my ancestors, and 
which my ancestors, namely, Earl Stephen my 
Grandfather, and Earl Alan my Father, ami 
my other ancestors have granted them, and by 
their Charters have confirmed. Wherefore i 
Will and firmly command, that they have and 
hold these customs and liberties well and in 
peace, honourably and freely, in the Borough 
and without, in wood and plain, in ways and 
paths, and in ail other free customs and liberties; 
And i do forbid, that from henceforth any one 
be any impediment to them concerning these, 
or do them any injury : But I entreat all iny 
men and friends, that they maintain and pro« 
tect them as to these matters. 

Witnesses. t ....R alph Archdeacon, Alan 
the Constable, Richard son of Philip, Wil¬ 
liam de Cogniers, Abraham the Priest, 
Walter son of Acharias, Alan of Moul¬ 
ton, Ralph of Middleton, Roland of Seunoc, 
IIermerus son of Ediva, Philip son of Al« 
©red, Roald son of Gamellus at Redon. 


APPENDIX, No. V. 

SEE PAGE 118. 


THE CHARTER OF CHARLES if. 


C HARLES the Second by the Grace of God 
of England, Scotland, France, and Ire. 

H h 3 



THE HTSTORY OF 


land, King, Defender of the Faith, and so forth. 
To all to whom these present Letters shall come, 
sendeth greeting. 

Whereas our 1'own and Borough of Rich, 
mond in our County of York is an ancient and 
populous Town or Borough, and the Alderman 
and Burgesses of the said Town or Borough by 
divers several names, have bad, used, and en¬ 
joyed, and hath, useth, and enjoyeth divers liber¬ 
ties, franchises, immunities, customs, preemi¬ 
nences and other hereditaments, as well by 
divers Charters and Letters Patent of divers of 
our progenitors and ancestors, late Kings and 
Queens of England, as also by reason of divers 
prescriptions and customs had used in the same 
Borough. 

Corporate Liberties. ...And Whereas out 
beloved Subjects, the now Alderman and Bur¬ 
gesses of the Town and Borough aforesaid, have 
humbly besought us, that we. for the better rule 
and government of the same Town and Borough, 
would graciously shew and extend our Ro)' al 
favour and munificence to the same Alderman and 
Burgesses of the Town or Borough aforesaid, 
and that we the said Alderman and Burgesses 
of the Town and Borough aforesaid (by what 
name or names soever they have been hereto¬ 
fore incorporated) would vouchsafe by these our 
Letters Patent to make, restore, constitute, or 
of new to create into one body corporate and 
politick, by the Name of Mayor and Aldermen 
of our Borough of Richmond in our County of 
York, with addition of such privileges, immuni- 
ties,aud franchises which we should think fit, We 
therefore graciously affecting the melioration of 


f 


RICHMOND. 367 

our Town or Borough aforesaid and the pros¬ 
perous condilion of our people there, will, that 
hereafter for ever there may' be had a certain 
and undoubted method in the same Town or 
Borough of Richmond in and for the keeping of 
our Peace, the Rule and Government of the 
said Town or Borough and our people there in¬ 
habiting, and of others therhunto_ resorting. 

A Free Borough.. .To he one Body by the name 
of Mayor and Aldermen. .And that the said Town 
or Borough at all times forever hereafter may 
be and remain a Borough of peace and quietness, 
to the fear and terror of evil men, and encour¬ 
agement and sustentation of good men, and that 
our Peace and other acts of Justice and good Rule 
may be (here better kept anti done, and hoping 
that if the Alderman and Burgesses of the Town 
and Borough aforesaid may by our Grant enjoy 
greater liberties, dignities, and privileges, that 
then they would perceive themselves more firmly 
and especially bound to perform those services, 
which they may offer to perform to us, our heirs, 
and successors, of our special Grace, sure 
knowledge, and mere motion, We have willed, 
ordained, constituted, and granted, and by 
these presents for us, our heirs, and successors, 
do will, ordain, constitute, grant, and declare, 
that our aforesaid Town or Borough of Rich¬ 
mond in our County of York may be and for 
ever remain hereafter a Free Borough of it¬ 
self, and that the Mayor, Aldermen and Free 
Burgesses of the Town or Borough of Richmond, 
in our County of York and their successors for 
ever hereafter, may and shall be by virtue of 
these Presents one Body Corporate and PoLU~ 


868 


THE HISTORY OF 


tic in substance, deed, and name, by the name 
of Mayor and Aldermen of the Borough of 
Richmond in the County of York, and them 
and their successors by the name of Mayor and 
Aldermen of the Borough of Richmond in the 
County of York, one Body Corporate and Po¬ 
litic, in Substance, Deed, and Name, really and 
fully for us our heirs and successors, we erect, 
make, ordain, constitute, declare, and create 
by these Presents, and that by the same name 
They may have Perpetual Succession. 

To Purchase Lands ... and that they and 
their successors, by the name of Mayor and 
Aldermen of the Borough of Richmond in 
the County of V ork, ma) and shall be at all 
times hereafter for ever Persons fit and in Law 
capable to have, purchase, receive, and pos¬ 
sess Lands, Tenements, Liberties, Privileges, 
Franchises, Jurisdictions, and Hereditaments, 
to them and their successors in Fee and for ever, 
or for term of life or lives, or years or other¬ 
wise howsoever, and also Goods and Chattels, 
and all other things of what kind, nature, form, 
or quality soever they shall be, and together 
with the assent and consent of the major.part of 
the Free Burgesses of the said Borough or Town 
aforesaid, to give, grant, demise, and assign 
the same Lands, Tenements, Hereditaments, 
Goods and Chattels, and all other Deeds and 
Things to be made and executed by the name 
aforesaid. 

To plead and be impleaded. ... An d that by 
the name of Mayor and Aldermen of the Bo¬ 
rough of Richmond in the County of York, 
they may be able to plead and be impleaded, 


RICHMOND. 


369 


answer and he answered, defend and be de¬ 
fended, in what Courts, Fleas, and Places so¬ 
ever, and before whatsoever Judges, Justices, 
and other Persons and Officers of us, our heirs, 
and successors, in all and singular Actions, Pleas, 
Suits, Plaints, Causes, Matters, and Demands 
whatsoever, of whatsoever kind, nature, or spe¬ 
cies they be, in the same manner and form that 
any other of our liege people of this our Realm of 
England, or any other Body Corporate or Poli¬ 
tic within this our Realm of England, may be 
able to have, purchase, receive or possess, give, 
grant, or demise, and to plead and be implead¬ 
ed, answer and be answered, defend and be de¬ 
fended. 

To have a Common Seal .... AND that the 
gaid Mayor and Aldermen of the Borough afore¬ 
said and their Successors may have for ever a 
Common Seal, to serve for all Causes and Busi¬ 
ness whatsoever of them and their Successor* 
to be done, and that it may and shall be lawful 
for the said Mayor and Aldermen of the Borough 
aforesaid, and for their Successors from time to 
time, at their will and pleasure, to break, change, 
and of new to make that Sea! as often as they 
•hall think it requisite to be done. 

To have a Mayor. ... AN D further we will 
and bv these Presents for us, our heirs, and 
Successors, do grant unto the said Mayor and 
Aldermen of the Borough aforesaid, and to their 
Successors, that for ever hereafter there may 
and shall be in the Borough or Town aloresaid 
one of the most honest and discreet men of that 
Borough or Town from time to time to be elect¬ 
ed iu form hereafter in these presents mentioned, 


370 


THE HISTORY OF 


who shall stand and be named Mayor of that 
Borough. 

To have Twelve Aldermen. ... And that like¬ 
wise forever there may and shall be within the 
Town or Borough Twelve of the honestest and 
most discreet men of the same Borough, from 
time to time to be elected according to the 
ordinances hereafter in these Presents specified, 
who shall be named the Aldermen of that Bo¬ 
rough. 

First Mayor , William Wetwang. ... And for 
the better execution of our Will and Grant in 
this behalf, We have assigned, nominated, con¬ 
stituted and made, and by these Presents for 
us, our heirs, and successors, do assign, nomi¬ 
nate, constitute, and make our well beloved 
William Wetwang Mayor, and to be the 
first modern Mayor of the Borough aforesaid, 
and to continue in the same office from the date 
of these presents until the Feast-Day of St. 
Hillary now next following, and from the same 
day until another of the Aldermen of the Town 
or Borough aforesaid shall be appointed and 
sworn to the office of Mayor of that Borough, 
according to the ordinances and provisions 
hereafter in these presents expressed and speci¬ 
fied, if the same William Wetwang shall so long 
five. 

Twelve First Aldermen.. .. And we have as¬ 
signed, nominated, constituted, and made, and 
by these Presents for us our heirs and succes¬ 
sors do assign, nominate, constitute and ap* 
point our well beloved Henry Sober , Richard 
Dawson . Henry Broderick , John Bartlett the 
Elder. Joseph Hopps, John Kay , Henry Cow - 
ling , Henry Bartlett, Robert Wilson^ John Bart- 


RICHMOND. 


37! 

lett the Younger , Thomas Heardson , Ed¬ 

ward Wyville to be the First and Modern Twelve 
Aldermen of the Borough aforesaid, to con¬ 
tinue in the same offices during their natural 
lives, except in the interim for bad government 
or any other reasonable cause they or any one 
or other of them shall from his or their said of¬ 
fice or offices be removed. 

The Mayor to take an Oath before the Alder . 
men before he enters into his Office.... AND 
further we will that the present Mayor of the 
said Borough above named, before that he shall 
enter into that office, shall take his Corporal 
Oath upon the Holy Evangelists before the Al¬ 
dermen of the said Borough or the greater part 
of them, well, faithfully, and truly to execute 
that office, to which said Aldermen or the ma¬ 
jor part of them we give and grant full power 
and authority by these presents to give and ad¬ 
minister the said Oath. 

The Aldermen to take Oaths.... AND that all 
the aforesaid Aldermen above named, before 
that they or any of them do enter into his or 
their respective office or offices, shall take their 
Corporal Oaths upon the Holy Evangelists be¬ 
fore the Mayor of the same Borough for the 
time being, well and faithfully his or their said 
office or offices, according to the duty of the 
same office or offices, respectively to execute, 
to which said Mayor we give and grant by these 
Presents full power and authority to give and 
a iminister the same Oath. 

Power to make Laws with the consent of the 
Free Burgesses ...AND further that the Mayor 
and Aldermen of the Borough aforesaid or the 
major-part of them, congregated or assembled 


372 


THE HISTORY OF 


together in Court or Convocation, shall and by 
these Presents may have full authority, power, 
and licence to erect, constitute, ordain, make, 
and establish, from time to time, such Laws, 
Institutes, Rights, Ordinances, and Constitu¬ 
tions, with the consent and assent of the major 
nart of the Free Burgesses of the said Town or 

I 

Borough, as they or the major part of them ac¬ 
cording to their sound discretion shall think 
good, wholesome, profitable, honest, and ne¬ 
cessary, for the good rule and government of 
the Mayor and Aldermen, and all other inha¬ 
bitants of that Town or Borough for the time 
being, and of all Officers and Ministers, Arti¬ 
ficers, person resident within that Town or Bo¬ 
rough for the time being, AND for the decla¬ 
ration by what manner and order the said Mayor 
and Aldermen and all other and singular Minis¬ 
ters, officers, artificers, Inhabitants, and Re¬ 
sidents of the same Town or Borough, and their 
Servants and Apprentices in their offices, mys¬ 
teries, arts and businesses, within that Town 
or Borough and the Liberties and Precincts of 
the same, shall bear, behave, and use themselves 
and otherwise for the further publiegood, common 
profit, and good rule of the Town and Borough 
aforesaid, and for the victualling of the same ; 
and also with the assent and consent as afore, 
said for the better preservation, government, 
disposition, location, and demising of Lands, 
Tenements, Possessions, Reversions, and Here¬ 
ditaments to the late Alderman and Burgesses 
of the Town and Borough aforesaid, or to the 
now Mayor and Aldermen of that Town or Bo¬ 
rough aforesaid and their successors, given, 


RICHMOND. 


373 


granted, and assigned, or hereafter to be given, 
granted, or assigned, and of any other thing or 
causes whatsoever touching that Town or Bo¬ 
rough, or the state, right, and interest of the 
same. 

To Fine and Amerce Offenders .. .To levy 
the Fines to their own use... .The Lazos not to 
be repugnant to the Laws of England... .AND 
that the Mayor and Aldermen of the Borough 
aforesaid for the time being, or the major part 
of them, shall and may be able, so often as they 
shall erect, make, ordain, or establish such in¬ 
stitutes, laws, ordinances and constitutions* 
in form aforesaid, and such pains, punishments, 
penalties, and imprisonments of body, or by 
fines and amercements or either of them, w hich 
the said Mayor and Aldermen for the time being 
or the major part of them for the observation 
of the said Laws, Ordinances, and Constitu¬ 
tions, shall think requisite and necessary to be 
upon all delinquents against such Laws, Insti¬ 
tutes, Decrees, Ordinances, and Constitutions or 
any one or other of them,*to make, ordain, limit, 
and provide, and the same Fines, Amercements, 
levy and have without the interruption of us, our 
heirs, or successors, or of any officers or Minis¬ 
ters of us, our heirs, or successors ; all and sin¬ 
gular which Laws, Ordinances, Constitutions, 
Decrees, and Institutes, so as aforesaid to be 
made. We V ill they be observed under the 
pains in the same to be contained, so that such 
Laws and Ordinances be not repugnant or con¬ 
trary to the Laws and Statutes of our Realm of 
England. 


374 


THE HISTORY OF 


The Mayor and Aldermen to choose two of 
the Aldermen to come fvi th for Mayor, and one 
of them to be elected by all the Inhabitants to be 
Mayor. .. .Furthermore we Will for us, our 
heirs, and successors, and do by these Presents 
grant to the Mayor and Aldermen of the Bo¬ 
rough of Richmond aforesaid and their suc¬ 
cessors, that the Aldermen of the Borough 
aforesaid for the time being or the major 
part of them, from time to time and at all 
times for ever hereafter, may and shall have 
power and authority yearly and on every Feast 
Day of Saint Hillary to elect and nominate, and 
that they shall be able to elect and nominate, 
two of the aforesaid number of Twelve Aider- 
men, and that all the Inhabitants of the Borough 
aforesaid or the major, part of them, ready as¬ 
sembled, may and shall be able to elect and no¬ 
minate one of the two said Aldermen to be 
Mayor of that Borough for one whole year next 
following. 

The Mayor to be sworn , before entering into 
his Office. . .AN D that the same Mayor after he 
shall be so nominated and elected as aforesaid, 
before he shall be admitted to execute that of¬ 
fice of Mayor, shall take his Corporal Oath 
upon Tuesday next following his nomination and 
election aforesaid, before the then Mayor or his 
last predecessor or the Recorder or Steward of 
the said Borough for the time being, the office of 
Mayor well and faithfully to execute, to which 
last predecessor or Recorder or Steward We 
give and grant full power and authority by these 
Presents to give and administer such an oath, 
and after such an oath so taken, he may and 


RICHMOND, 


375 


shall be able to execute the office of Mayor of 
the said Borough for one whole year then next 
following. 

// the Mayor die , pozcer to choose another by 
the Free Burgesses.... Ai\ T D moreover We will 
for us, our heirs and successors, and do by 
these Presents grant to the said Mayor and Al¬ 
dermen of the Borough aforesaid and their suc¬ 
cessors, that if it happen that the Mayor of the 
Borough at any time within one year after he 
shall be appointed and sworn to the oliice of 
Mayor of that Borough, die 01 be removed from 
his office, that then and so often it shall and 
may be lawful for the Aldermen of the borough 
aforesaid, or the major part of them for the 
time being two other of the said Aldermen to 
nominate and elect, and for the said Free Bur - 
gesses or the major part of them, which shall 
then he assembled together, to appoint and 
elect one of those two Aldermen to be Mayor 
lor that Borough, and that he soebcfed and ap¬ 
pointed shall have and exercise that Office dur¬ 
ing the residue of the same year, taking bis 
Corporal Oath in the form aforesaid, and this 
so often as occasion shall fail out. 

Power to choose other Aldermen , in the place 
oj one dead or removed . out of the Inhabitants.. 
And further we will and for us, our heirs, and 
successors do by these Presents grant and or¬ 
dain to the said Mayor and Aldermen and their 
Successors, that, whensoever it happeneth that 
some one or other of the said Twelve Aldermen 
for the time being do die or be removed from 
his place of Alderman or dwell out of the Bo¬ 
rough, then and so often it may and shall be 

1 i 2 


376 THE HISTORY OF 


[awful for the rest of the same Twelve Aider- 
men of the Borough aforesaid surviving or re¬ 
maining or the major.part of them, to elect, 
nominate, and appoint other one or more of the 
Inhabitants of that Borough into his or their 
place or places of Alderman or Aldermen so 
dead, departed, or removed, and that he or 
they so elected and appointed, tirst taking his 
or their Corporal Oath or Oaths before the 
Mayor or Recorder of the Borough aforesaid, 
shall be of the number of the Twelve Aldermen 
of the Borough aforesaid, ami that so often as- 
occasion falleth out; To which said Mayor and 
Recorder for the time being We give and grant 
by these Presents full power and authority to 
give and administer such oath or oaths. 

'Fa elect a Recorder by the Mayor and Alder - 
»*?«.,• "And furthermore of our plentiful and 
especial grace. We will and for us, our heirs, 
and successors do by these presents grant to the 
said Mayor and A Idermen of the Borough afore¬ 
said, that they and their successors for ever 
may have in the Borough aforesaid one honest, 
discreet, and learned man in the common Laws of 
this Kingdom of England, whoshali be called Re¬ 
corder or Steward of the Borough aforesaid, and 
that the Mayor and Aldeimen of the Borough 
aforesaid for the time being or the major part of 
them may be able from time to time to elect, no¬ 
minate, and appointone honest, discreet man, and 
skilful in the laws to be Recorder or Stewaid of 
the Borough aforesaid, and that he who shall be so 
elected, nominated, and appointed Recorder or 
Steward for the Borough aforesaid, shall and 
may be able to have, exercise, and enjoy the 


RICHMOND. 


m 


-office of Recorder or Steward of (he Borou.- h 
aforesaid, at the liking and him consent of (be 
said Mayor and Aldermen of the Borough afori * 
?aid for the time being or the major pait of 
them, whensoever and as often as that office shall 
happen to be vacant. 

Jam s Metcalfe, Jlrs't Recorder. ...And fu r. 
ther we have assigned, nominated, and ap¬ 
pointed, ami by these Presents for us, our heirs 
and successors, do assign, nominate, make, and 
ordain our well beloved James Metcalfe , Esq, 
to be Recorder or Steward of the said Borough 
of Richmond, to exercise and execute J ustiee 
upon his oath and other things which do or 
ought to appertain unto the office of Recorder 
or steward of the Borough of Richmond afore¬ 
said, And we make, constitute, create, and 
declare by these Presents, him the said Janies 
Metcalfe Recorder or Steward of the said L}u* 
rough for and during his natural life. 

I’o have tzoo Serjeants at Mace ... .Serjeants to 
bear Maces of (jrolii or Silver.. .And further 
we will and by these Presents do grant unto 
the said Mayor and Aldermen of the Borough 
of Richmond aforesaid and their successors, 
that for ever hereafter there may and shall he in 
the said Borough two officers w ho stull be 
called Serjeants at Mace, (or the execution of 
process, precepts, and other business of tin* 
Court in the Borough aforesaid, from time l.o 
time to be executed and finished, which same 
two Serjeants at Mace and cither of them shall 
from time to time be attendant upon the Mayor 
of the Borough aforesaid Mr tire time being, tor 

\ i. 3 


378 


THE HISTORY OF 


the executing of Process, Precepts, and other 
business in the borough aforesaid, from time to 
t me to the office of the Ma\ or of the said Bo¬ 
rough belonging or appertaining, which two 
Serjeants at all times, for ever hereafter, shall 
be nominated and chosen by the Mayor and Al¬ 
dermen of the Borough aforesaid for the time 
being or by the major-part of them, and after 
the date of these Presents ami from thenceforth 
hereafter yearly and every year, upon Tuesday 
after St. Hillary for one whole year then next 
following; And they so nominated and elected, 
may and shall he in due manner sworn to the 
office of Serjeant at Mace and to the office of 
Serjeants of the Mayor of the Borough afore¬ 
said for one w hole year, before the Mayor and 
Aldermen or Recorder of the Borough of Rich¬ 
mond aforesaid for the time being, to which 
Maj or and Aldermen and Recorder of the said 
Berouyh, and to every of them, Wjl give and 
grant full power and authority to give and 
administer such Oaths, and the said two Ser¬ 
jeants at Mace, to be deputed in the Borough 
aforesaid, shall bear before the Mayor of the 
said Borough and his successors everywhere 
within the Borough of Richmond aforesaid, and 
the limits, bounds, and precincts of the same, 
Maces gRded with gold or silver, engraven and 
adorned with the Arms of this Kingdom of Eng¬ 
land. 

To choose Constables and other Officers, after 
the same manner as formerly used ...And also 
that the Mayor and Aldermen of the Borough 
aforesaid, or the major part of them, may 
elect, nominate, and appoint from time to time 


/ 


RICHMOND. 


379 


ror ever hereafter, yearly amt every year, upon 
the aforesaid Tuesday next after the Feast of 
">t. Miliary, so many such Constables and other 
inferior Officers and Ministers within the Town 
aforesaid, as the Mayor or Aldermen of the 
I own aforesaid, before the date of these pre- 
sent*, hav*e had and were accustomed to have 
within the Town aforesaid. And such like 
M misters or officers, so to their several offices 
elected and nominated, may be in due manner 
sworn before the Mayor and Twelve Aldermen 
of the Borough aforesaid, or the major-part of 
them for the time being, well and truly to ex* 
ecute their offices ; To which said Mayor and 
Twelve Aldermen and to every of them, or to 
the greater part of (hem for the time being, to 
give and administer such Oaths We give and 
grant lull power an I authoiity by these presents) 
and that they so elected as aforesaid, may have 
and exercise their several offices for one whole 
year then next following. 

In case of death or removal to choose other 
Officers.... And as often and whensoever it doth 
happen that such inferior Officers and Ministers 
of the Town aforesaid, or any one or other of 
them, within one year after as aforesaid he or 
they shall be appointed and sworn to their offi¬ 
ces, do die or be removed from their offices, 
that then and so often it shall and may be lawful 
for the Mayor and Aldermen of the Town afore¬ 
said for the time being, or the major-part of 
(hem, to elect and appoint one other or others 
in the place of him or them dying or removed, 
being wilhin Fight days then next following, 
and that he or they, so elected and appointed, 



333 THE HISTORY OF 




may have and exercise the office and offices* to 
^hich he or they shall be so elected or appoint¬ 
ed, during the residue of the same year, first 
taking I is oi their Corporal Oath or Oaths *n 
form aforesaid, and that so oiten as occasion 
shall fail out. 

To have a Court of Record.. ..The Court not 
to extend above £100.... A N L> further we will 
arid do by these Presents for us, our heirs, and 
successors grant to the said Mayor and Alder¬ 
men of the Borough aforesaid and to their suc¬ 
cessors, that they and their successors for ever 
hereafter may have and hold, and may have 
power to have and hold within the Borough 
aforesaid, one Court of Record upon every 
Tuesday fortnight throughout the year, before 
the Mayor, Recorder, or Steward, and three 
Aldermen of the Borough aforesaid, or before 
two of then), of whom we will that the Mayor 
and llecorder, or Steward for the time being be 
one. To he holden in a certain place being in the 
Borough aforesaid, called the Common Hall , or 
any other House within the precincts of the 
same Borough, which to the Mayor and Aider- 
men of the said Borough for the ti.ne being or 
the major part of them sha'l seem more expe¬ 
dient ; AND that in that Court they may hold, 
for Plaints in the same Court to be holden, ail 
and all manner of Pleas, Actions, Suits, and 
Demands, of whatsoever Trespass, by force and 
arms, or otherwise done or to oe done in con* 
tempt of us, our, heirs or successors, against the 
form of some Statutes, and of whatsoever tres¬ 
passes, faults, ami offences personally within 
the Borough aforesaid and the Liberties and pre- 


RICHMOND. 


381 


ducts oi the same, done, moved, and com¬ 
mitted ; and of all and. singular Dtbts, Accounts, 
Covenants, Detentions of Charters, Writings 
and Muniments, taking of Cattle and Detention 
of Goods and Chattels, and of other personal 
Actions and Contracts whatsoever. Causes or 
Matters arising within the Borough aforesaid, 
and the Liberties and Precincts of the same, and 
by such a.ud such like process and manner ac¬ 
cording to the law and custom of this Kealm of 
England, by, with, and as other liege people 
have used, and in as ample manner and form as 
in our Court before our Justices of the Bench 
at Westminster, or in any other Court of Re* 
cord, or in any City or Town incorporate within. 
O ir Kingdom of L'ngland i9 used or accustomed 
or can or ought to be done, so that it extend 
not above the sum of One Hundred Pounds, 

The Serjeants to execute all Process about the 

Court _A ND further we will and for us, our 

heirs and successors do by these Presents ordain, 
that the Serjeants at Mace of the said Borough 
of Richmond aforesaid for the time being, or 
either of them, shall do and execute all Ordi¬ 
nances, Pannels, Inquisitions, Attachments, Pro¬ 
cess, Commands, Warrants, Precepts, or any 
other thing whatsoever necessary to be done at 
the Causes aforesaid, or in any other Causes 
touching or concerning the said borough within 
the thorough aforesaid and the Liber tie sand Pre¬ 
cincts of the same, as it shall be commanded them, 
according to the purport ot the Laws, and as in 
the said Court before our J ustices of the Bench 
at Westminster, or in any other Court of Re- 


382 


THE HISTORY OF 


cord within our Kingdom of England in the like 
cases used or ought to be done. 

The Mayor to have all Tines.... And the 
aforesaid Mayor of the Borough of Richmond 
and his successors shall and may have all Fines 
and Amercements and other profits to arise out 
of or in the Court aforesaid, or by reason or 
pretext of the same Courts to fall out or 
happen. 

Frankpledge of all the Inhabitants and Re¬ 
sidents.. .. And further we will and grant, for 
us, our heirs, and successors, by these Pre¬ 
sents to the aforesaid Mayor and Aldernen of 
the Borough of Richmond aforesaid and to their 
successors, That they and their successors for 
c^ver hereafter may have view of Frankpledge 
of all the Inhabitants and Residents within the 
Borough aforesaid, and the Liberties and pre¬ 
cincts of the same twice in a year in a certain 
place called the Common Hall, or in any other 
place within the said Borough aforesaid, which 
the Mayor and Aldermen shall judge more con¬ 
venient to be holden upon the same days and 
all other times which they shall think fit and 
necessary, And all and whatsoever doth belong 
to the view of Frankpledge aforesaid, together 
with all the Attachments, Amercements, Ar¬ 
rests, Issues, Fines, Redemptions, and other 
things whatsoever, which thereof to us, our heirs, 
or successors there or any wise may or ought 
to appertain. 

The Mayor Keeper of the Gaol. ‘And that 
the said Major and Aldermen and their suc¬ 
cessors may have within the Town aforesaid a 
certain Prison or Gaol proper for Felons and 


RICHMOND. 


383 


other Malefactors within that said Borough 
taken or to he taken, in the same Gael t .* be 
safely kept until they shall be from thence de¬ 
livered according to the Laws and customs of 
our Realm of Ragland, ANnthat the Mayor of 
the Borough aforesaid for the time being shall 
and may be keeper of the same Gao!. 

The Hounds of the Corporation... .Amu fur¬ 
ther we will and by these Presents for us, our 
heirs, and successors, do ordain and grant, that 
the said Borough of Richmond and the Circuits 
and Precincts and Jurisdictions thereof may 
be, and extend and protend itself, and may be 
able to extend and protend as well in length 
and breadth as in Circuit and Precincts, to such 
and such like bounds and limits, to which 
and as the said Borough and the Circuits and 
Precincts and Jurisdictions thereof, from the 
time whereof the memory of man doth not 
extend to the contrary or at any time before the 
date of these Presents, have been accustomed 
to extend and protend itself. 

To have Perambulation.. ..Ann that it shall 
and may be lawful for the Mayor and Aldermen 
of the Borough of Richmond aforesaid and their 
successors, To make Perambulation or Peram. 
bulations thereof, and their Liberties and Fran¬ 
chises to oversee, enquire, and limit above, 
within, and without the Borough aforesaid the 
Liberties and Precincts of the same, in what¬ 
soever Places, Lands, Tenements, or Lordships, 
the same shall be within the Borough aforesaid 
or elsewhere in the County of York, without 
the interruption of us, our heirs, or successors, 
or any other whomsoever, as by their Char- 


384 THE HISTORY OF 


t- rs, four squared m&rkfct, 1 -imits, Pounds. Stalls, 
Paths. Lamps, Water-Courts, Walls. Hedges, 
Waters, Bridges, Ditches, Houses, Crosses, of 
otherwise howsoev* r they afe limited, as here* 
to fore they have been used ; And also a! 1 such 
like hedges, ditches, walls, stalls, houses and all 
other inclosures in such Perambulations made and 
to he oraile, if they think it expedient, to lay 
down, break,open, include, and freely w ithout 
the interruption of us, our heirs, or successors, 
or of any other to pass over and go out, ami all 
those things so to permit and suffer without any 
satisfaction of amendment as heretofore they 
have been used, and this so often as they please 
oi shall think requisite to be done, and this 
without any Writ or Warrant therefore fjotn us, 
our heirs, or successors, in this behalf after any 
sort to obtain or prosecute. 

The Mayor to have As site of Bread ... Pun¬ 
ishment of Delinquents in abusing Weights 

and Measures. . WE grant iikewise to 

the said Mayor and Aldermen of the Borough 
of Kich mond aforesaid and to their Successors 
by these presents, that they Cndtheir Successors 
may and Shall have Assize of Bread , Witib^ 
Ale , and all other victuals, of Fuel and W ood 
in the Borough aforesaid, and the Liberties and 
Precincts of the same, and the amendment of 
that Assize broken, and also the Punishment, 
Correction, and Amercement of all Delinquents 
there, in abusing of Measur'S and Weights, of 
Fuel or Wood, as well in the presence of us, 
our heirs, and successors, as in the absence of 
us, our heirs, and successors ; And that all 
Victuallers, Fishmongers, as well as others In. 


RICHMOND. 


385 


habiting in the said Borough, and dll who 
henceforth or hereafter shall come unto the said 
Borough, be under the government of the said 
Mayor and Aldermen of the said Borough for 
the time being or hereafter being. 

7 he Recorder to be chosen within Fourteen 
Dnus ...And further we will and for us, our 
heirs, and successois, do by these Presents grant 
to the said Mayor and Aldermen of the Borough 
aforesaid and their successors, that as often as 
and whensoever it doth happen that the Recorder 
or Steward of the Borough aforesaid shall, so ap¬ 
pointed, die or be removed from his office, that 
then and so often it shall and may be lawful for 
the said Mayor and Aldermen aforesaid to elect 
and appoint one other honest and discreet uian, 
skilful in the Laws, in the place of him so dead or 
removed, within Fourteen daysthen next follow¬ 
ing, And that he, so elected and appointed 
into the office of Recorder or Steward of the 
Borough, may have and exercise that office at 
the liking and pleasure of the Mayor and Aider- 
men of the Borough aforesaid, having first taken 
his Corporal Oath before the Mayor and Aider- 
men or before the major-part of them, and that 
so often as occasion shall happen, To which 
Mayor and Aldermen or the major-part of them 
for the time being to give and administer such 
an Oath. We give and grant full power and au¬ 
thority by these Presents. 

The Mayor to be Justice oj Peace during his 
Mayoralty , and a year after ; and the Recorder 
during the time he continues in his office. ...We 
also have for us, our heirs, and successors, 
granted to the said Mayor and Aldermen of the 

K k 


THE HI STORY OF 


38 () 

Borotigh aforesaid and (heir successors, that 
every Mayor of the Borough aforesaid for the 
tine being, during his Mayoralty, and one 
w hole year after then n< xt following, and the 
Recorder cr Steward during (he time he shall 
continue in that office, shall be Justices of us, 
our heirs, and successors, to keep the Peace in 
the same Borough and the Liberties and Pre¬ 
cincts thereof, and to keep, correct, or cause 
to be kept or corrected the Statutes concerning 
Artificers, Labourers, and Weights and Mea¬ 
sures within the said Borough, and the Liber¬ 
ties and Precincts of the same. 

Power to enquire into all Felonies , Sfc. within 
the Borough,...Not to proceed to any matter he- 
tokening loss of life ... And that the said Jus- 
xiccs of the Peace for the time being may have 
full power and authority to enquire concerning 
ail kinds of Felonies, Trespasses, Imprison¬ 
ments, and other defects and Articles wbatso. 
ever done, moved, or committed within the 
Borough aforesaid, and the Liberties and Pre¬ 
cincts of the same, which before the keepers 
and Justices of the Peace in any of our Coun¬ 
ties in the Kingdom of England may or ought to 
be enquired, provided that the said Justices of 
the Peace lor the time being do not proceed to 
the determination of Treasons, Murders, or Fe¬ 
lonies, or any other matter betokening loss of 
life, within the Borough aforesaid, and the 
Liberties and Precincts of the same, without 
the special command of us, our heirs ? and suc¬ 
cessors. 

Counti) Magistrates not to intermeddle in any 
matter within the Borough ... And neverthe- 


RICHMOND. 


•V 

o 


less they may be able to enquire, hear, finish, 
anti determine all and singular other Trespasses, 
Offences, Defects and Articles, which to the 
olh ce of Justices of the Peace within the bo¬ 
rough aforesaid, and the Liberties and Pre¬ 
cincts of the same appertained to do, so full 
and wholly in as ample manner and form as any 
other Justice of Peace of us, our heirs, and 
successors, in any other County of our King¬ 
dom of Lngtaud may or can enquire, in ar, and 
determine, So that the Justices of Peace, or of 
Labourers and Artificers of us, our heirs, and 
successors, in the County of York, or any of 
them, shall notin any wise hereafter intermeddle 
with any Felons, Things, Causes, Matters, 
Defects’, and Articles whatsoever, to the O(lice 
of Justice of Peace, of Labourers and Artificers 
belonging or appertaining, within the sai l bo¬ 
rough of Richmond and the Liberties and Pre¬ 
cincts of the same, for any cause whatsoever to 
happen and arise, except in defect .oft he Justices, 
within the said borough aforesaid for the time 
being. j ' | ,■ , : 

The Forfeits of those zcl\o refusp their offices, 
viz. 40v.. ..On non payment to be committed to 
And likewise we will for us, our heirs, 
and successors, and do by these Presents grant 
to the Mayor and Aldermen of Richmond afore¬ 
said and their successors, that if any one or 
other, who hereafter shall be elected oi nomi¬ 
nated to the office of Mayor, wilder men,, or othei 
inferior ofticeis of the afore^iid borough or to 
anyone or other of the same office or offices 
(except the office of Recorder or Steward of 
the Borough aforesaid) having notice and know- 

K k 2 




THE HISTORY OF 


388 

ledge of their election and nomination, shall 
renounce or refuse to exercise the office or of¬ 
fices to which he or they shall be so elected or 
nominated, shall forfeit to the Mayor and Al¬ 
dermen of the Borough aforesaid for the time 
being Forty Shillings of law ful English money, 
and that it may and shall be lawful for the said 
Mayor and Aldermen of the Borough aforesaid 
for the time being or the major part of them, 
him or them so renouncing and refusing, to 
commit to the Gaol of the said Borough, there 
to remain until he or they have paid or cause to 
be paid that Fine or Forfeiture to the use of the 
Borough. 

Palm.Sunday Fair granted . Market on 

Saturday in every zecck.... Fortnight Fairs to 
be kept.. r . And further we have granted and for 
us, our heirs, and successors, do by these Pre¬ 
sents grant to the aforesaid Mayor and Aider- 
men of the Borough aforesaid for the time being, 
that they for ever may have, and shall h*ve and 
hold one Fair, commonly called Palm-Sunday 
Even Fair, to be holden every year in Rich¬ 
mond aforesaid for one Day, to wit, upon the 
Vigil of the same Day commonly called Palm 
Sunday Even, And also one Market upon the 
Saturday in every week, and one Fair or 
Market upon every Saturday fortnight, for all 
Quick Goods and other things and Merchan¬ 
dizes from time to time every year betwixt 
Palm Sunday Even and the Feast of the Na¬ 
tivity of our Ford, which is called Christmas ; 
And all other Fairs and Markets which former¬ 
ly they have, might have, or ought to have and 
hold 5 And also all Stallages, Pannage, Tolls, 


RICHMOND. 



and customs of the same Fairs and Markets, 
And also a Court of Pie Powder held and to 
be holden within the Fair at the time of these 
Fairs every year ; And also all, and all manner 
of such and such like Rights, Jurisdictions, 
Privileges, ()dices, Commodities, Profits, and 
Emoluments whatsoever, which the Court of 
Pie Powder and Fair called Bartholomew Fair 
in Smithfield, in the Suburbs of London, is 
holden to be belonging or appertaining, and 
of right ought to belong and appertain. 

Mayor , the Clerk of the Market , and Coro - 
rter....AND also that the Mayor of the said 
Town for the time being for ever may and shall 
be Clerk of the Market, and Coroner within the 
Borough aforesaid, and Circuits and Precincts 
of the same. And that the Mayor of the said 
Town for the time being may do and execute 
and may be able to do and execute for ever, all 
and whatsoever pertaineth to the office and 
Clerk of the Market and Coroner there to be 
done, and ali and singular other Acts and things 
to be done, which to these offices, or either of 
them within the same Borough appertained) to 
be done and finished, So that the Cle»k of the 
Market of our Household or any other Coroner 
of us, our heirs, or successors, in our absence 
or the absence of our successors, tor the Assize 
of Bread, Wine and Ale, Fractions or Weights 
or M easures, ol such sort, or for any other 
thing touching or concerning the several offici s 
aforesaid, or any thing of mem in the same lit*- 
rough, the Circuits and Precincts of the same, 
in no manner do or may presume to enter within 
Lie same Borough or the Precincts of the saiuv^ 

K k 3 


390 


THE HISTORY OP 


to do any tiling which to the office of Clerk of 
the Market or Coroner in any wise doth apper¬ 
tain ; And nevertheless that in the presence of 
us, our heirs, and successors, within the said 
Borough of Richmond aforesaid, and the Cir¬ 
cuits and Precincts of the same, We will that 
the Clerk of the Market of our Household or of 
the Household of our heirs or successors for the 
time being, may, together with the Mayor afore¬ 
said for the time being, enter upon any thing 
which to the office of Clerk of the Market 
there in the said Town doth appertain, saving 
the sums, amercements, and fines of the Mayor 
and Aldermen of the Borough aforesaid. 

Freedom from serving at the Assizes zvi/h 
Foreigners. ...We have also granted to the said 
Mayor and Aldermen and their successors, and 
for us, our heirs, and successors, do by these 
presents grant, that the Aldermen and Inhabi¬ 
tants within the Town aforesaid, and the circuits 
and precincts of the same, or any of them, 
may not be put with Foreigners in any Assizes, 
Juries, or Inquests whatsoever, by reason of 
any Lands, Tenements, Trespasses, or other 
Business or Foreign Contracts whatsoever, 
which before our Justices or other Ministers of 
us, our heirs, and successors, may or can 
hereafter in any way arise, Nor that Foreigners 
be put with these Aldermen and Inhabitants in 
any Assize, Juries, Attaints, or Inquests, which 
by reason of their Lands or Tenements being in 
the same Town, or the Precincts of the same, 
or Trespasses, Contracts, or other inward bu¬ 
siness in the same Town, or in the Precincts of 


RICHMOND. 


391 


the same, should arise to he taken, but these 
Assizes, Juries, ami Inquests of those things, 
"which shall arise in the same fown, and Pro- 
cinets of tne same, shall only be done by the 
Aldermen and inhabitants of the said l own 
and in the same Town, excep tnese things mav 
concern us, or our heirs, Kings of this ilealni 
of hngland or the Commonalty of the same. 

JVaifs and Deodands , S(c. to the Mayor and 
Aldermen. ... vV e have also granted to the same 
Mayor and Aldermen and their successors, and 
for us, our heirs, and successors, VV k do by 
these Presents grant unto them, that they and 
their successors for ever may have all, and all 
manner of Goods and Chattels of all Felons and 
Fugiti ves, Out* Laws, and Waifs, to be out¬ 
lawed and waifed, condemned and to bn con¬ 
demned, adjudged and to be adjudged, attaint¬ 
ed and to be attainted, convicted and to be con¬ 
victed, fled and in pursuance forFeloriyor Murder 
laid aside, or to be laid aside, and of Felos de 
se and Deodands, stolen goods found upon a 
thief taken in the fact, and other forfeitures and 
offences aforesaid, happening or concerning all 
and every Alderman, and Inhabitants resident 
and not resident within the Borough aforesaid, 
and the Circuits and Precincts of the same; And 
that if any person for his crime ought to lose his 
life and Member, and shall fly and will not 
stand to judgment, or shall commit any other 
crime whatsoever, whereby lie ought to lose or 
forfeit his Goods and Chattels, wheresoever he 
shall receive Justice, whether in the Court of 
us, our heirs, and successors, or in any other 
Court whatsoever, those Goods and Chattels 



392 


THE HISTORY OP 


being within the Borough aforesaid, and the 
Circuits and Precincts of the same, or from this 
time hereafter h ippening to be, may he the 
same Mayor’s and Aldermen’s their lu irs and 
successors for ever, And that it may be lawful 
for the said Mayor and Aldermen and their 
successors, by their officers of the Town afore- 
said, who shall be for that time or by any other 
or others whensoever in the name aforesaid, to 
put themselves in possession and seizen of the 
Goods and Chattels aforesaid, and the same to 
the use and behoof of the said Mayor and Aider- 
men and their successors, to receive and retain, 
without the Hindrance of ns, our heirs, or suc¬ 
cessors, orof anyofficer of us, ourheirs, or suc¬ 
cessors, although the same Goods and Chattels 
were first seized by us, our heirs, or successors 
or by our or their Ministers. 

Power granted to Elect Parliament Bur - 
gesscs.... And also we will and ordain, and for 
us, our heirs, and successors do by these Pre¬ 
sents grant to the said Mayor and Aldermen of 
the Borough aforesaid and their successors, that 
there shall and may be in the said Town Two 
Burgesses of Parliament of us, our heirs and 
successors, And the said Mayor, Aldermen, 
and Free Burgesses in the said Town of Rich¬ 
mond, their heirs, and successors, as often and 
whensoever our Parliament happeneth to be 
summoned, begin, or be called, by virtue of 
the VVrit of us, our heirs, and successors, of 
election of Parliament Burgesses to them di¬ 
rected or otherwise, shall and may have full 
power, authority, and licence, tolled and no¬ 
minate two discreet and honest men, Burgesses 


RICHMOND. 


393 


of the Borough aforesaid, to be Parliament 
Burgesses of us, our heirs, and successors for 
th* sime Borough, which same Burgesses so 
elected, at the expences and charges of the said 
Borough and Commonalty of the same they 
shall send to the Parliament of us, our heirs, 
and successors, whensoever it shall be then 
holden, in the same manner and form as hath 
been used in other Boroughs of our Kingdom 
of England, which said Burgesses so elected and 
nominated. We will, be present and make their 
abode at the Parliament of us, our heirs, and 
successors,, at the costs and charges of the said 
Town of Richmond and the Commonalty of the 
same, during the term which such Barliament 
shall be held, as other Burgesses of Parliament 
for whatsoever other Cities and Boroughs within 
our said iteaim of England shall do and use or 
ought to do, which said Burgesses in such Par¬ 
liament shall have their Votes as well affirm¬ 
ative as negative, and to do and execute all 
other things which other Citizens and Burgesses 
of Parliament of us, our heirs, and successors, 
for whatsoever Cities and Boroughs may have 
done and executed, or be able to have, do, or 
execute by any manner of ways whatsoever. 

Power to Purchase Lands, <Sfc.... Lands pur• 
chased not to exceed ^40. per Annum ... Ani> 
further know ye, that we in consideration that 
the Mayor and Aldermen of the Borough afore¬ 
said and their successors, their burthens in the 
said Borough may be better able from time to 
time to sustain and undergo, Of our special 
grace, sure know ledge, and mere motion, have 
grauted and given licence, and for us, our heirs, 


394 


THE HISTORY OF 


and successors as much as in us, do by these 
Presents give free licence and lawful strength, 
power, and authority, to the aforesaid Mayor 
and Aldermen of the Borough aforesaid, and 
their successors, to have, perceive, and pur¬ 
chase to them and their successors for ever, as 
well of us, our heiro, and successors as of any 
of our Subjects and liege People, or of any oth^r 
Person or Persons whatsoever, Manors, Mes¬ 
suages, Lands, Tenements, Kectories, Tythes, 
Rents, Reversions, Services, and other pos¬ 
sessions, Revenues, or other Hereditaments 
Whatsoever, which are not holden of us, our 
heirs, and successors, in capite or by Knight 
service, nor of us nor of any other Knight ser¬ 
vice without the Special Licence of us, our heirs, 
or successors, or the licence of the Lord or 
Lords of whom the aforesaid Lands, Tenements, 
and Hereditaments are holden, so that the said 
Manors, Messuages, Lands, Tenements, Rec¬ 
tories, Tythes, Rents, Reversions, Services, 
or other Possessions, Reversions, and Here¬ 
ditaments do not exceed the yearly value of 
Forty Pounds per Annum, the Statute of not 
passmg Lands and Tenements into Moitmain 
or the Writ ad quod damnum prius non prose- 
quantur or any other Statute, Act, Ordinance, 
Provisions, or Restriction thereof to the con¬ 
trary heretofore had, made, declared, ordained, 
or provided, or any other thing, cause, or 
matter whatsoever in any wise notwithstand¬ 
ing 

Power to take Recognizances .. ..And fur¬ 
thermore of our plentiful, special grace, certain 
knowledge, and mere motion, W£ have given 


RICHMOND. 


and granted, and by these Presents for ns, our 
heirs, and successors, do give and grant to (he 
said Mayor and Aide rmen of the Borough afore¬ 
said and their successors, that the Mayor for 
the time being, and the Clerk by us and by 
these Presents deputed to take Recognizances 
of Debts according to the form of Statutes Mer¬ 
chant, and the Statute of Acton Burnell, may 
for ever have full power and authority to take 
and receive whatsoever Recognizances, and to 
make execution thereof, according to the form 
of the Statutes of Acton Burnell lately published, 
And also to do and execute all other things, 
which by virtue of the same Statutes or either 
of them to any Mayor or Clerk appointed to 
take Recognizances of Debts, according to the 
form of the said Statutes or either of them, or to 
any of them belongeth or may or ought to be¬ 
long. 

To have a Seal of two Prizes.... And that the 
said Mayor or Clerk for ever hereafter shall 
and may make, assume, and fix one Seal of two 
Prizes, ^whereof one part shall be the greater 
part, and the other the lesser part, to seal the 
Recognizances aforesaid, hereafter to be ac¬ 
knowledged before them, according to the form 
of the Statutes Merchant aforesaid, which said 
Seal for ever hereafter shall be called our Seal, 
and the Seal of our heirs and successors, to Seal 
Recognizances to be taken within the Town 
and Borough aforesaid, the major-part of which 
said Seal shall always remain in the custody of 
the Mayor of the same Borough for the time 
being, and the other part, to wit the lesser part 
of the same seal, shall for ever be and remain 




306 THE HISTORY OF 


in the custody and hands of the Clerk 1 or the 
time being by these Fiesentsdeputed and ap¬ 
pointed to write and enroll the Recognizances 
aforesaid. 

First Tozcn Clerk .7b keep the Lesser 

,SW....And for the better execution of our will 
and grant herein, Of our especial grace, sure 
knowledge, and mere motion. We will and for 
us, our heirs, and successors, do by these Pre¬ 
sents, grant, and ordain, that James Close now 
the Town-Clerk of the said Borough, hereafter 
as long as he is and shall continue Town Clerk 
of the same Borough, may and shall be our 
Clerk and the Clerk of our heirs and successors, 
to take, write, and enroll Recognizances of 
Debts according to the form of the Statutes 
aforesaid and either cf them within that Town 
or Borough, and to keep the lesser part of the 
Seal aforesaid. And further do and execute 
all other things which to any Clerk, appointed 
to take Recognizances of Debts according to 
the form of the Statutes aforesaid, or either of 
them, doth appertain to do or ext cute, for 
such time and so long as he shall as aforesaid so 
be and lemain Town-Clerk of the Town or 
Borough aforesaid. 

And further We will and by these Presents, 
for us, our heirs, and Successors, do grant to 
the said Mayor and Aldermen of the Borough 
aforesaid and theirs successors, that after the 
decease or removal of him the said James Close 
from the Oflice of Clerk of the Statutes afore¬ 
said, the 1 own-Clerk of the said Boiongh for 
the time being, at all times, for ever hereafter, 
may and shall be the Clerk ol us, our heirs, and 


RICHMOND, 39 ? 

successors, to take, write, and enroll Becog. 
nizances of Debts according to the form of ti e 
Statutes aforesaid anc^lo keep the lesser part of 
the seal aforesaid ; And further to do and ex¬ 
ecute all other things which to any other Clerk, 
appointed to take Recognizances of Debts ac¬ 
cording to the form of the Statutes aforesaid or 
either of them, doth appertain to do or ex- 
ecute. 

The Town-Clerk for the time being to have 
power to take Recognizance , and keep the lesser 
part of the Seal. ...A no the said Town. Cleik of 
the Town or Borough aforesaid for the time 
being, shali be our Clerk to take, write, and 
enroll Recognizances of Debts according to the 
form of the Statutes aforesaid, or either of 
them, within the Town or Borough aforesaid, 
and to keep the lesser piece of the Seal afore¬ 
said ; And further to do and execute all other 
things which belongeth to any Clerk appointed 
to take Recognizances of Debts according to 
the form of the Statutes aforesaid, or either of 
them, to do or execute, And that the said 
James Close, for such time and so long as he 
shall be and remain Town Clerk of the Borough 
aforesaid, and the Town-Clerk of the Borough 
for the time being, hereafter for ever may and 
shall be Ckik to take Itecognizances of Debts 
according to the form of the Statutes afortsaid, 
And that the said James Close for such time 
and so long as aforesaid, and afterwards the 
Town-Clerk of the said Borcugh for the time 
being, may and shall have full power and au¬ 
thority to do and execute all and singular things, 
which the Cilice of Clerk, deputed to take Re- 

L 1 


398 THE HISTORY OF 


cognizances of debts according to the form of 
the Statutes aforesaid, by virtue of the same 
Statutes to do and execute in any wise doth ap¬ 
pertain : And that such Recognizances so as 
aforesaid taken and acknowledged may and shall 
be of such and so great force and effect in the 
law, as any Recognizances taken and acknow¬ 
ledged before any other Mayors and Clerks, or 
any other Officers of any other Borough, Town, 
or City within our Kingdom of England accord¬ 
ing to the form of the Statutes aforesaid, or 
either of them, may and shall, or in any wise 
ought or can be: And that the aforesaid Mayor 
of the Borough aforesaid for the time being, and 
the said James Close for such time and so long 
so as aforesaid he may be and shall remain 
Town-Clerk of the Borough aforesaid, and af¬ 
terwards the Mayor of the Borough and the 
Town. Clerk of the same Borough for the time 
being, and every of them, shall do and perform 
for ever hereafter all and singular other things 
whatsoever, which by the Statutes aforesaid, or 
either of them, are appointed to be done to or 
about such Recognizances : And further we 
will and by these Presents for us, our heirs, 
and successors, do grant and ordain that the 
aforesaid James Close, so long as he may or 
shall so as aforesaid remain Town.Clerk of the 
Borough aforesaid, and afterwards the Town- 
Clerk af the said Borough for the time being ap¬ 
pointed to make, take, and enroll Recogni¬ 
zances of Debts according to the form of the 
Statutes aforesaid within the Town aud Borough 
aforesaid for the time being, may and shall for 
ever hereafter have so many, so great, such the 


RICHMOND. 


399 


same, and such like fees, wages, rewards and 
emoluments, of and for exercising the Office 
aforesaid, as any other Town-Clerk of any 
other Towns or Borough within this Kingdom 
of England, or any other Clerk appointed to 
take Recognizances aforesaid, within any otl er 
Town or City, may or ought lawfully of right 
to have and receive in any manner or wise. 

Ihe Mayor and Recorder to be szcorn to ex¬ 
ecute the Office of Justice of the Peace., .And 
further that the modern Mayor and Recorder 
or Steward of the Borough or Town aforesaid, 
in and by these our Letters Patent above in 
form aforesaid nominated and appointed, before 
that they or either of them do enter into the ex¬ 
ecution of the Justice of Peace within the Town 
or Borough aforesaid, shall take their Corporal 
Oaths upon the Holy Evangelists, well and 
faithfully the office of Justices of Peace to ex¬ 
ecute within the same Town or Borough in and 
by all things touching that office, and also the 
Oaths in that behalf by the Laws and Statutes of 
this our Realm of England, provided and by 
the Justices of Peace accustomed to be taken, 
before our well beloved James Darcy, Esq. Sir 
Joseph Craddock, Knight, and Major Norton 
Esq. or any of them, To which said James 
Darcy, Sir Joseph Craddock, and Major Nor¬ 
ton, and every of them, to give and administer 
such Oaths to the Mayor, Recorder, or Stew¬ 
ard, and to either of them We give and grant 
full power and authority by these presents. 

The Mayor and Recorder for the time being 
to be sworn to execute the Offices of Justices of 

L 1 2 




400 


THE HISTORY OF 


the Peace ...And further We will, that every 
Mayor and Recorder, or Steward, of the Bo¬ 
rough afores.iid for the time being, in form 
aforesaid hereafter respectively to be elected 
and appointed, shall take his Oath upon the 
floly Eva ngelists welt and faithfully to execute 
the Office of Justice of Peace within the Town 
or Borough, and the Liberties and Precincts of 
the same, in and by all things touching and 
concerning that Office, and also all Oaths by the 
Law of this our Realm of England in that be¬ 
half prov ided to be re quisite to be taken by a 
Justice of Peace, before the Mayor of the Bo- 
lough for the time being or his last Predecessor 
in the Office of May or in that Tow n or Bo-ough, 
or before the other Aldermen of the said Town 
or Borough for the time being or any two of 
them, before such time as they or either of 
them shall be admitted to execute the Office of 
Justice of Peace within the Borough or Town 
aforesaid, To which said Mayor of the Borough 
aforesaid and his last Predecessor in that Office 
for the time being, and to the aforesaid other Al¬ 
dermen of the same Tow n or Borough or to any 
two of them, to give and administer such Oaths 
to all and every such Mayor and Recorder of 
that Borough hereafter to be nominated and 
elected We give and grant full power and au¬ 
thority by these presents, without any other 
Commission or Warrant therefore to be pro¬ 
cured or obtained of us, our heirs, or succes¬ 
sors. 

AH charitable uses to be invested in the Manor 

1/ 

and Aldermen.... And we further will, and for 
as, our heirs, and successors, do by these Pre- 


RICHMOND. 


40 i 


sents grant aud declare, that all and all manner 
of Gifts, Grants, Divisions, Dispositions, powers 
of naming and other powers, Interests, and au¬ 
thorities whatsoever, of, for, and concerning 
any pious or charitable use or uses created or 
constituted of, for, or concerning any other use 
or uses whatsoever, which at any time at or be¬ 
fore the making of these Presents have in any 
sort been placed, settled, or invested in the 
Alderman of the Borough aforesaid, or in the 
Aldermen and Burgesses of the Town and Bo¬ 
rough aforesaid, or in any of them for the time 
being, or which hereafter have been duly ex¬ 
ercised, executed, or enjoyed by them or any 
of them, shall be and by these Presents are 
placed, settled, and invested in the Mayor and 
Aldermen of the Borough aforesaid and their 
successors, and for every of them from time to 
time to execute, exercise, use and enjoy all 
and singular Powers, Authorities, and other 
the Premises aforesaid, in such and so ample 
manner and form to all intents and purposes 
whatsoever, as the said late Alderman of the 
Borough aforesaid or the said late Alderman 
and Burgesses of that Town or Borough for the 
time being or any one or other of them have or 
hath in times past duly and lawfully made, ex¬ 
ercised, used or enjoyed, or hereafter ought or 
might make, exercise, use or enjoy the same, if 
these our Letters Patent had not been made and 
provided. And it is our Royal pleasure that 
the Mayor of the Borough aforesaid for the time 
being shall from time to time hereafter supply 
the place ol late Alderman of the Town or Bo¬ 
rough aforesaid, in execution and performance 

L l 2 


402 THE HISTORY OF 


of all powers, authorities, and other premises 
aforesaid, by himself, or together with the Al¬ 
dermen of the Borough aforesaid for the time 
being or any one or other of them, as the late 
Alderman of the same Town or Borough might 
or ought to have performed and executed, if 
these our Letters Patent had not been made, 
any former Charters, Letters Patent, Gifts, 
Grants, Dispositions, Use, Custom, or any other 
matter, thing, or cause whatsoever to the con¬ 
trary in any wise notwithstanding. 

Confirmation of all former Liberties and 
Rights.,.. And further of our plentiful and es¬ 
pecial grace, sure knowledge, and mere mo¬ 
tion, We have, and do for us, our heirs, and 
successors, grant and confirm to the said Mayor 
and Aldermen of the Borough of Richmond 
aforesaid and their successors, and also to the 
Free Burgesses of the Town aforesaid, all and 
singular the same, such and such like Messuages, 
Lands, Tenements, and Hereditaments now in 
the tenure and occupation of the Alderman and 
Burgesses of the Town and Borough of Rich¬ 
mond aforesaid or of any of their Farmers or 
Tenants, And also all and singular the same 
and such like Liberties, Privileges, Franchises, 
Fairs, Markets, Fines, Amercements, Profits, 
Commodities, Customs, Immunities, Acquittals, 
Exemptions, Rights, and Jurisdictions what¬ 
soever, which the Alderman and Burgesses of 
the Town or Borough of Richmond aforesaid, 
or which the Mayor and Aldermen of the Town 
or Borough of Richmond aforesaid, or any one 
or other of them, or any of their Predecessors, 
by whatsoever name or names, or by whatso- 


RICHMOND. 


403 


ever Incorporation, or by reason of whatsoever 
Incorporation he or they now or heretofore have 
had, held, used, or enjoyed, oroughttohave had, 
held, used,o r enjoyed, to them and their successors 
of an estate of inheritance by reason or force of 
aiiy Charters or Letters Patent of any of our Pro¬ 
genitors or Ancestors late Kings and Queens of 
Kngland in any wise heretofore confirmed or 
granted, or by reason ofany prescriptions, use, or 
custom,or any other lawful manner, ri^ht. or ti. 
tie heretofore had, used, or accustomed, so far as 
the same Liberties, Privileges, F ranchises. 
Use, and Customs are not contrary or repug¬ 
nant to the aforesaid Grants or Ordinances and 
Constitutions by us in these our Letters Patent 
to the said Mayor ar.d Aldermen granted, al¬ 
though the same, or any of them have or hath 
not heretofore been used, or have or hath been 
abused, badly used, or discontinued, and al¬ 
though the same or any of them have or hath 
been forfeited and lost, to have, hold, and en¬ 
joy all and singular the same Lands and Tene¬ 
ments, Hereditaments, Liberties, Privileges, 
Franchises, Rights and other the Premises to 
the said Mayor and Aldermen and Free Bur¬ 
gesses of the Town or Borough aforesaid and 
their successors for ever, yielding therefore to 
us, our heirs, and successors, all such and the 
same Rents, Services, Sums of Money, and 
Tenures, which to us they have heretofore ren¬ 
dered, or used, or of right ought to pay for the 
same. 

Clause for quiet enjoyment.*.. We will also, 
and for us, our heirs,and successor?, do grant to 
the said Mayor and Aldermen of the Borough 



404 THE HISTORY OF 


aforesaid by these Presents, that they may be 
able to have, hold, use, and enjoy for ever all 
Liberties, Free Customs, Privileges, Authori¬ 
ties, and Acquittals aforesaid, according to the 
tenure and effect of these our Letters Patent, 
without the let and interruption of us, our heirs, 
and successors whomsoever, unwilling, that 
the said Mayor and Aldermen, by reason of the 
premises orany of them by us,our heirs, or succes¬ 
sors, shall hinder, molest, grieve, vex, or in anv 
wise trouble the Justices, Sheriffs, Escheators, or 
other Bailiffs or Ministers of us, our heirs, and 
successors, Willing, aud by these Presents for 
us, our heirs, and successors, firmly charging 
and commanding, as well the Treasurers of the 
Chancery, and Barons of the Exchequer, and 
all other Justices of our heirs, and succes¬ 
sors, as also our Attorney and Solicitor Gene¬ 
ral for the time being, and all other Officers 
and Ministers whatsoever, that neither they nor 
any of them shall prosecute, or continue or 
cause to be prosecuted or continued, any Writ 
or Summons of quo Waranto or aay other Writ 
or Process whatsoever against the said' Mayor 
or Aldermen of the Town or Borough aforesaid 
or any of them, for any causes, things, matters, 
claims, or offences by them or any of them 
done, claimed, attempted, used, had or enjoyed 
before the day of making of these Presents, 
Willing also, that the said Mayor and Aider- 
men of the Borough aforesaid, orany one or 
other of them, shall not be troubled or hindered 
by any one or other of the Justices of the 
Peace, Officers or Ministers aforesaid, in or 


RICHMOND. 


405 


for due use, claim, or abuse of the Liberties, 
franchises, or Jurisdictions, within the Town 
or Borough aforesaid, the Liberties and Pre¬ 
cincts of the same, before the Day of the making 
of these our Letters Patent, or shall be com¬ 
pelled to answer the same or any of them. 

The Mayor, Aldermen , Recorder, and all 
of her Officers to take the Oaths of allegiance and 
supremacy before they enter upon this or their 
Office or Offices.. ..Provided always, and we 
will and by these Presents, for us, our heirs, 
and successors do ordain and firmly enjoin and 
command, that the Mayor, Aldermen, and He* 
corder or Steward, and all other Officers and 
Ministers of the Town or Borough aforesaid 
and their Deputies, and also all Justices 
of the Peace of us, our heirs, and successors 
within the borough now appointed or hereafter 
to be nominated, elected, or appointed by vir¬ 
tue or according to the Tenure of these our 
Letters Patent or other Charters or Letters 
Patent heretofore made, before they or any of 
them shall be admitted or enter upon the ex* 
caution or exercise of the Office or Offices, 
Place or Places, to which lie or they respec¬ 
tive! y now be or hereafter shall be nominated, 
elected, appointed, or constituted, shall take 
as well the Corporal Oath, commonly called 
the Oath of Obedience, and also the Corporal 
Oath called the Oath of Supremacy, upon the 
Holy Evangelists, before such Person or Per¬ 
son as by the Laws and Statutes of this our 
Realm of England is or hereafter shall be ap. 
pointed to give and administer such Oath. 

No 7'ozcn Clerk or Recorder to enter on their 
respective Offices , before they are approved of 


400 THE HISTORY OF 


by the King.,*. And further we will and de¬ 
clare that our Royal pleasure and intention is, 
that no Recorder, or Steward, or Town-Clerk, 
of the Town or Borough aforesaid, hereafter to 
be elected and appointed, or either of them, 
shall enter on such their respective Office or Of¬ 
fices, before that they and every of them re¬ 
spectively shall be approved of by us our heirs 
or successors, any thing in these Presents con¬ 
tained or any other thing, cause, or matter to 
the contrary in any wise notwithstanding : Foil 
that express mention of the true yearly value 
and certaiuty of the Premises and every of them, 
or of other Gifts or Grants by us or any of our 
Progenitors or Predecessors heretofore, to 
the said Mayor and Aldermen of the Borough of 
Richmond has been made, nothing in these 
Presents or any other Statute, Act, Ordinance, 
Provision, Proclamation, or Restriction here¬ 
tofore published, ordained, provided, or any 
other cause or matter whatsoever to the con¬ 
trary in any w ise notwithstanding, in testimony 
whereof we have caused these our Letters to be 
made Patent. 

Witness ourself at WESTMINSTER, the 
FOURTEENTH Day of MARCH in the 
TWEN riEl'H year of our Reign. 

PIGOTT* 


APPENDIX, No. VI. 

SEE PAGE 120. 

C HARLES 11. by the Grace of God, of 
England, Scotland, France, and Ireland, 



RICHMOND. 


407 


King, Defender of the Faith, Sec. To all and 
singular, Sheriffs, Mayors, Constab'es, Bailiffs, 
Ministers, and others, whom these Presents 
shall come greeting. Whereas according to the 
custom in this Kingdom of England heretofore 
held and appointed, the Men and Tenants of 
the Town of Richmond, from the time whereof 
the memory of man is not to the contrary, were 
accustomed to be acquitted from payment of 
Tolls, Pontage, Pickage, Murage, Pannage, 
Stallage, Passage, and Carriage, for all their 
Goods and Things throughout the whole King, 
dom of England : We command you and every 
of you, and firmly enjoin you, that ye permit 
according to the custom aforesaid all and singu¬ 
lar the Men and Tenants of the honour aforesaid 
to be acquitted of the aforesaid Tolls, Pontage, 
Pickage, Murage, Pannage, Stallage, Passage, 
Lastage, and Carriage to be yielded to you or 
any of you for their goods and things, and even 
as from henceforth they ought to be acquitted, 
and as they and their ancestors the Men and 
Tenants of the Honour aforesaid from the time 
aforesaid heretofore wont to be acquitted, and 
that ye release to them without delay the dis¬ 
tress if you have made any upon them, or any 
of them upon that occasion. In Witness 
whereof we have made these our Letters Pa¬ 
tent. 

Witness Ourself at WESTMINSTER, the 
SEVENTH Day of DECEMBER, in the 
TWENTIETH Year of our Reign. 

BARKER. 



408 


THU HISTORY OF 


Richmond ) TO all Justices of the Peace, 
Borough , V ]\J a) ois, Sheriifs, Bailiffs, Con- 
Cow. Ebor % ) stables, and others his Majesty’s 

Officers and loving Subjects 
whomsoever, to whom these Pre¬ 
sents shall come, or whom the 
same may any way concern. 

W HEREAS the Men and Tenants of the 
Honour and Borough of Richmond, in 
the County of York, have from time immemo¬ 
rial been free and exempted of and from the 
pa) mint of Toll, Pontage, Pickage, Murage, 
Pannage, Stallage, Passage, Lastage, and Car¬ 
riage of all their Goods, Wares, and Merchan¬ 
dizes in and throughout the South part of Great 
Britain called England, which privilege and ex¬ 
emption have been ratified and confirmed by his 
iate Majesty King Charles II. and all his 
most illustrious Progenitors Kings and Queens 
of England under their great Seal, (a true Copy 
of one of which said Grants for) our better sa¬ 
tisfaction I have caused to be hen unto annexed) 
1 do hereby certify to you, and every of you, 
That A 13, CD, F, G 11, & c. are Tenants and 
Freemen of the said Honour and Borough of 
Richmond and TradingCordwainers* within the 
Borough afoiesaid,and therefore in friendly man¬ 
ner do desire and lequire vou to let them the said 
A B, C D, E F, G ii, &c. pass wi h their Goods 
and Cattle free from pa) merit of Boils, ac¬ 
cording to the said custom, and as by the said 
Grants and Charters they ought to pass, other¬ 
wise such speedy course will be taken for the 

* Or any other of the Incorporated Trades as the oases 
may be. 



RICHMOND. 


409 


preservation of their just rights and privileges, 
as the Law hath provided in these cases. 

Given at Richmond under my Hand and the 
common Seal of the said Borough, this NINTH 
Day of OCTOBER, in the FIFTH Year of 
the Reign of our Sovereign Lord, GEORG E 
by the Grace of God, of Great Britain, France, 
and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith, &c. 
Anno Domini, 1718. 

Corporation JAMES METCALFE, 
Seal. Major. 


APPENDIX, No. VII 

SEE PAGE 1534. 

KING V. VANSON.. ..(Copy.) 

Information against I'Anson for usurping 
the Office of Alderman of the Borough of 
Richmond. 

TRINITY TERM, 12th GEORGE III. 


Yorkshire. ||>E it remembered, That James 
JL& Burrow, Esq. Coroner and 
Attorney of our present Sovereign Lord the 
King in ihe Court of our said present Sovereign 
Lord the King, before the King himself, whofor 
our said present Sovereign Lord the King, 
in this behalf prosecuteth in his proper per- 

M in 


THE HISTORY OF 


son, cometh here into the Court of our said 
present Sovereign Lord the King before the 
King h;rr.silf at Westminster on Friday next 
after the octave of the Holy Trinity in this same 
Term: And for our said present Sovereign 
Lord the King at the relation of William Sleigh 
of Hatton Garden in the County of Middlesex 
(ient. according to the Form of the Statute in 
such case made and provided, giveth the Court 
here to understand and be informed, that the 
Town or Borough of Richmond in the County 
York rs-an ancient Town or Borough, And 
that the Mayor, Aldermen, and Free Burgesses 
of the said Town or Borough now are, and for 
the space of 20 years now last past and upwards, 
have been and were one Body Corporate and 
Politic, in deed, fact, and name, by the name 
of Mayor and Aldermen of the Borough of 
Richmond in the County of York (that is to 
say) at the Town or Borough of Richmond 
aforesaid, in the County of York aforesaid* and 
that within the said Town or Borough there 
are, and for and during all the time aforesaid 
there have been or ought to have been and still 
ought to be Twelve of the more honest and dis¬ 
creet men of the same Town or Borough called 
Aldermen of the said Borough (that is to say) 
at the Town or Borough of Richmond aforesaid 
in the County of York aforesaid. And that 
the Place, Office, and Franchise of an Aider- 
man of the said Town or Borough, for and dur¬ 
ing all the time aforesaid, hath been and 
still is a Public Office and a Place, Office, 
and Franchise of great tiust and pre-emi¬ 
nence w ithin the said Town or Borough, touch¬ 
ing the rule and government of the same Town 


RICHMOND. 


or Borough and the administration cf Public 
Justice within the said Town or Borough, (that 
is to say) at the Town or Borough of Richmond 
aforesaid, in the County of York aforesaid ; 
And that Thomas L’Anson of the Borough of 
Richmond aforesaid in the County of York 
aforesaid, Gent, upon the l4(h day of January 
in the 12th year of the reign of our said present 
Sovereign Lord George I If. by the G pic* of 
God, of Great Britain, F ranee, and Ireland, 
King, Defender of the Faith and so forth, at 
the Town or Borough of Richmond aforesaid, 
in the County of York aforesaid, did use and 
exercise, and from thence continually afterwards 
to the time of exhibiting this information hath 
there used and exercised, and still cloth there 
use and exercise, without any legal Warrant, 
Royal Grant, or Right whatsoever, the Place, 
Office, and Franchise of one of the A. Mermen 
of the said Town or Borough, and for and (lur¬ 
ing all the time last above mentioned hath there 
claimed and still doth there claim, without any 
legal Warrant, Royal Grant, or Right what¬ 
soever, to be one of the Aldermen of the sai ! 
Town or Borough, and to have, use, and enjoy 
all the liberties, privileges, and franchises to 
the said Place, Office, and Franchise of one of 
the Aldermen of the said Town or Borough be¬ 
longing and appertaining, which said place, Of¬ 
fice, Liberties, Privileges, and Franchises lie 
the said Thomas l’Anson for and during all the 
time last above mentioned upon our said present 
Sovereign Lord the King hath usurped and still 
doth usurp (that is to say) at the Town or Bo¬ 
rough of Richmond aforesaid, in the County of 

M in 2 


l 


412 


THE HISTORY OK 


York aforesaid. In contempt of our present So¬ 
vereign Lord the King, to the great damage 
and prejudice of the Royal Prerogative, And 
also against his crown and dignity : Where* 
upon the said Coroner and Attorney of our said 
present Sovereign Lord the King, for our said 
present Sovereign Lord the King, prayeth the 
consideration of the Court here in the Premises, 
And that due process of Law may be awarded 
against him the said Thomas I’ Anson in this 
behalf to make him answer to our said present 
Sovereign Lord the King, and shew by what au¬ 
thority he claimeth to have, use, and enjoy the 
Place, Office, Franchise, Liberties, Privileges, 
and Franchises aforesaid. 


Copy of Max dam vs directed to the Mar/or and 
Aldermen of Richmond , to restore Mr. Joiis: 
Ro am son to his Office of Alderman. 


G LORGE HI. by the Grace of God, of Great 
Britain, France, and Ireland, King, De¬ 
fender of the Faith, &c. To the Mayor 
andAldermen of our Town or Borough 
of Richmond, in our County of York, 
greeting, 

W HEREAS J ohn Robinson, one of the 
Inhabitants of our said Borough, was 
duly elected, nominated, appointed, and ad¬ 
mitted into the place and office of one of th 
Twelve Aldermen of our said Town or Boroug 
of Richmond, in which said place and office of 
one of the Twelve Aldermen of our said Town 


<a> -C 


RICHMOND. 



or Borough he the said John Robinson always 
behaved and governed himself well, Vet you 
the said Mayor ami Aldermen of our said Town 
or Borough, little regarding the premises, have 
unjustly and without any reasonable cause re¬ 
moved the said John Rohinson from the said 
place am! office of one of the Aldermen of tlm 
said Town or Borough, 1 n contempt of us and 
to the great damage and prejudice of him the 
said John Robinson, as we have been informed 
from his complaint made to us in that behalf; 
We therefore being willing that due and speedy 
justice should be done to the said John Robin¬ 
son in this behalf (as it is reasonable) Do com¬ 
mand you and every of you, firmly enjoining 
you, that immediately after the receipt of this 
our Writ, you do without delay restore or 
cause to be restored him the said John Robin¬ 
son into the said place and office of one of the 
Twelve Aldermen of our said Town or Borough 
of Richmond, together with all the Liberties. 
Privileges, and advantages to the said place and 
office belonging and appertaining, or sin w us 
cause to the contrary thereof, lest by your de¬ 
fault the same complaint be repeated to us, And 
how you shall have executed this our Writ, 
make appear to us at W BS i'M i NSTFii on 
FRIDAY next after the morrow of All-Souls, 
then returrdng to us this our Writ, And this 
you are not to omit upon peril that may fail 
thereon. 



Year of our Reign. 


I N DOUSED 

( By Rule of Court.) 


By the Court, 


BURROW. 

jj ill J 


414 THE HISTORY OF 


APPENDIX, No. VJII. 


SEE PAGE 1‘io. 


- - r ’ ■' <: ■ : ■ f ’ ] 

As it may be amusing to some of our Headers 
to peruse the opinions of Counsel upon many of 
the points mentioned in Page 1^5, here are in¬ 
serted two or three of those, which have been 
taken at different times, when these matter# 
came into dispute. 

MR. PRICKETT's Opinion. 

44 The Charter directs nothing about Free¬ 
men, by whom or after what manner they shall 
be made, therefore usage and the by-laws of the 
Corporation must be the guide in that matter. 

44 Though the Corporation is incorporated 
by the name cf Mayor and Aldermen of the 
Borough of Richmond, and may purchase by 
that name, yet, by express words of tlie Char¬ 
ter, the Mayor and Aldermen cannot give, 
grant, assign, or demise the lands or tenements, 
goods or chattels of the Corporation, without 
consent of the major-part of the Free Burgesses, 
therefore cannot dispose of the Town’s wastes 
or money without such consent. 

44 I take the Common Council to be persons, 
to be chosen out of the Free Burgesses to re¬ 
present them to avoid confusion ; and if there 


lijCilMOM). 


415 

J B.S 



lion) then the consent of the major, part of the 
Common-Council is necessary, in af» such’ acts 
where the consent of the Free Him prases ia're¬ 
quired by the Charter. 

u I conceive that by the words of the Charter, 
the Mayor and Aldermen cannot make by-laws 
without the consent of the major, part of tlifc’ 
r ree burgesses. 

, u 1 am of opinion, that, though the Mayor 
and /Vldermen did dispose of Ten Pounds of (he 
Corporation money without the consent of the 
Common Council or Burgesses, yet no partic¬ 
ular Member can have an action for it, but the 
way to remedy such grievances, where they ait 
directly in opposition to the Charter, is to bring 
a Quo YVarrauto against them. 

MARMADUKE PiUCKETT.” 
April 4, 1712. 

• * J *• p i 


' •' •r > 'rr F* ^ 

MR. CUTHBERT's Opinion. 

U l have perused your Letters Patent of 
King Charles II. made for the incorporation 
of the Borou 
the several 
me, 

l. “ I am of opinion, that the Mayor and 
Aldermen may make Foreigners Freemen of the 
Corporation, that haveserved seven years within 


gh of Richmond, and in answer to 
questions, that have been put to 



416 


THE HISTORY OF 


the 1'own ; but if there beany Trades there, 
that are Corporations by prescription. I think 
the Mayor and Aldermen cannot make any 
Foreigner free of any of those Trades, or give 
them any power Ur exercise such Trades within 
the Borough, unless there be a custom to enable 
them so to do. 

II. 'Fuat the Mayor and Aldermen have 
not power to take up, give, or let the Town’s 
waste without the consent of the major part of 
the Free Burgesses, nor have power to Jet 
Leases of the Town’s Lands, or to set Rents 
upon them without the consent of the major part 
of the Free Burgesses, such consent being re¬ 
quired and directed by their Charter. 

ill. “ That the Mayor and Aldermen have 
not power to give the Town’s money from the 
use of the Corporation, that proceeds from the 
Town’s Lands, nor otherwise to dispose thereof 
without the consent of the major-part of the Free 
Burgesses, whose consent is by the Charter di¬ 
rected to be had in the government, disposition, 
and letting their lands and revenues. 

IV. “ That the iVIayoraud Aldermen alone 
are the Body Corporate and Politic, and the 
Burgesses no part of the body, otherwise than 
they are included in the Corporation of the 
Mayor and Aldermen : but in such particular 
cases, as by the Charter the Mayor and Aider- 
men are restrained in (he exercise of any power 
without the consent of the Free Burgesses, there 
such consent ought to be had. 

V. fi That the Mayor and Aldermen alone, 
have not power to make any by laws, and if 
they do dispose of any of the Revenues of the 


RICHMOND. 


417 


Corporation without the consent of the major- 
part of the Free Burgesses, i think an informa¬ 
tion in the nature of a Quo Warranto in the At¬ 
torney General’s name maybe brought against 
them. 

Vi. u As the Free Burgesses consent is re¬ 
quired in the government and disposition of the 
revenues, 1 think they ought to be consulted in 
passing the Mayor’s Accounts, and I suppose 
the Common Council is in such cases the repre¬ 
sentatives of the Burgesses. 

VH. i think, that in all cases where no 
power or other direction is given by the Char¬ 
ter, there custom and usage must prevail, and 
the Charter confirms all former customs that are 
not thereby altered, and so far l apprehend the 
Common Council, elected according to custom., 
do represent the Free Burgesses. 

* “1. CUTIIBERT.” 

May 6, 

1712. 


Mil. CHAYTOIt’s Opinion. 

44 It does not appear, that the Corporation 
of Richmond have any right to the House and 
Garden, &c. sold to Air. Geldard, except what 
arises from possession ; 1 can by no means ap ¬ 
prove of the title. If under such circumstances 
Mr. Geldard chooses to accept it on a general 
Warranty of the Corporation, it will be ne¬ 
cessary that the Corporation Seal should be set 
to the deeds with all proper solemnity, as to be. 


418 THE HISTORY OF 


binding upon the Corporation; and in order to 
effect this, l apprehend it will be absolutely ne¬ 
cessary for Mr. Mayor to call a meeting of the 
Free Burgesses to give their consent and appro¬ 
bation thereof, and that at least so many days 
previous notice of such meeting should be given, 
as by the rules of the Corporation are required 
in such cases. 1 incline to think, that the con¬ 
sent of the Common Council with the Mayor and 
Aldermen alone will not be sufficient. The 
Charter, as far as l am informed, gives no 
power to the Common Council to act for the Free 
Burgesses at large in such matters. -And it is 
also natural for Mr* Geldard to consider, that 
in case the Corporation of Richmond should be 
dissolved, he will not have a right to maintain an 
action at law against the members of the present 
Corporation, their heirs, or assigns, in their 
natural capacities, for breach of the covenants 
contained in the release. 

Wm. CJIAYTQR.” 

Nov. 18, 1793. 


APPENDIX, No. IX 

SEE PAGE 138. 


I he following Letters, written by one of the 
Members for the Borough of Richmond in the 



RICHMOND. 


410 


second year of Charles I, having lat* ly fallen 
into the Editor’s hands, he has inserted them, as 
they may afford some amusement. 

James Howell, E-q. one of the Clerks of his 
Majesty' s most Honourable Privy Council 
to Sir Edward Savage, Knight. 

#4 Sir , 

u ’ Twas no great matter to be a 
u Prophet, and to have foretold this rupture 
u ’tzsixt us and France, upon tne sudden re- 
li envoy of her Majesty's servants : for many 
44 of them had sold their Estates in France, 
<£ given money for their places, and so thought 
u to live and die in England in the Queen's ser- 
44 vice, and so have pitifully complained to that 
44 King ; thereupon he hath arrested above 100 
“ of our Merchantmen, that went to the Vin~ 
44 tage at Bourdeaux. We also take some strag- 
44 gle-rs of theirs, for there are Letters of Mark 
“ given on both sides. ' 

44 I here are Writs issued out 
44 for a Parliament, and the Town of Rich- 
“ mond in ttichmondshire hath made choice of 
44 me for their Burgess, tho' Master Christo - 
44 pher Wandesford and other powerful men, 
44 and more deserving than I, stood for it. 1 
44 pray Cod send me fair weather in the House 
44 of Commons, for there is much murmuring 
‘ 4 about the restraint of those that would not con - 
44 form to Loan Monies. There is a great fleet 

44 preparing and an army of Landmen ; but 

45 the design is uncertain , whether it be against 
44 Spain or France, for we are now at enmity 
44 With both these Crowns. The French Car - 


THE HISTORY OF 


420 

u ilinal hath been lately V other side the Alps, 
u ana settled the Duke of Nevers in the Dutchy 
u of Mantua, notwithst andh g the oppositton of 
£ * the King of Spain and the Emperor, who al. 
“ /edged, that he was to receive his investiture 
u frim him, and that was the chief ground of 
44 the zvar. Tint the French arms have done the 
44 zcor/c, and came triumphantly over the hills 
ii again . JSlo more now , but that 1 am as al - 
u ways 

Your true Friend , 

“ JAMES HOWELL.” 

March 2 , 1627 . 


To tueWorshipfut. Me. A ldi- rman or tiie 

loUN OF Rl( I1MOM1, And THE REST OF THE 

Worthy Mem he us of that ancient Cor- 
FO RATION. 

“ l received a public Instrument 
u from you lately, subscribed by yourself and 
divers others , wherein 1 find that you have 
44 made choice of me to be one of your Bur - 
ki gesscs f or this now approaching Pa*liamcnl. 
4i 1 couth have wished that you had not nut by 
u Master JVansfcrd, and other worthy Gentle - 
44 wen that stood so earnestly for it, who being 
year neighbours , had better means and more 
“ abilities to serve you. Yet since you have, 
“ cast these high respects upon me, '/ will ' tn- 
“ deavour to acquit myself of the Trust, and to 
u answer your expectation accordingly. And 



RICHMOND. 


421 


as I account this Election an honour to me , so 
44 / esteem it a greater advantage , that so zcor- 
44 /Ay and roe// experienced a Knight as Sir 
* Talbot Bozces is to be my colleague and 
44 fellozs Burgess. I shall steer by his compass , 
4 ‘ r/wtf follozo his directions in any thing , that 
44 may concern the welfare of your town and the 
44 Precincts thereof, either Jor the redress of any 
44 grievance , or by proposing some nezo thing 
(i that may conduce to the further benefit and 
44 advantage thereof ; and this I take to be the 
4< /rue duty af a Parliamentary Burgess , re////- 
44 out roving at random to generals. 1 hope to 

44 learn oj Sir Talbot what's fitting to be done , 
44 and / sAa// apply myself accordingly to join 
u with him to serve you with my best abilities. 


44 So l l est 


44 Your most assured , 
If 4 ««</ ready Friend 




422 


THE HISTORY OF 


APPENDIX, No. X. 

SEE PAGE 2*5. 

THE PRIORY of ST. MARTIN, A CELL 
TO ST. MAItY’S, YOItK. 


TIJE CHARTER or WYMAR, Sewer t» 
the EARL of RICHMOND. 

From a FRAGMENT of the REGISTER of ST. 
MARY, York, in the HATTON Library . 


K NOW all Men as well present as future, 
that read or hear these Letters, That 1 
Wymau, Sewer, have given and granted to 
God and St. Mary at York, and to the Monks 
serving (jfod there, the Chapel of St. Martin 
near Uichmond and one carucate of land, and in 
Edlinthorp four carucates of land, and the 
Church of Thornton and half a carucate ofland, 
and in Scotton four carucates of land, and the 
tithe of ruy domain of Wicra, in pure and per¬ 
petual alms, freely asid quietly, from ail worldly 
service and custom, for the soul of my Father 


RICHMON D. 


423 


«ind my Mother, and all my relation', as '.veil 
as for my own salvation and that of my heirs. 

Witnesses, War an my Son. Landric of 
Horne by, Hubert the Chaplain. &c. 


APPENDIX, No 

.»■ >1 

SEi: *Mp ly'. 


XI 


CHARTER of HO ALDUS, Son of ROAL 
S, Son of ALA N. 


TO all the Faithful ir. Christ, to whom this 
present Writing shall come, Rqaldus, 
Son of Uo aldcs. Son of Alan, the 
Constable of Richmond, health. 
gy”~ NO W Ye, (hat 1 iiave given, granted, 
_Bl ’SL. and by this my present Charter have con¬ 
firmed to God and to the Church of St. Mary at 
York, and to the Priory of St. Martin near 
Richmond, and to the Monks serving God 
there, the homage and all the service of Wil¬ 
liam, son of Hamo, Steward of liudleswell, 
of two bovates of land with the appurtenances in 
Hudleswtdl, and the homage and all the service 
of Arnalo, sou of Hubert of H utiles well, of 
two bovates of land with the appurtenances in 
Hudleswell, and the homage and all the service of 
M atild a, daughter of Ha it ald of H udleswell, of 

N n 2 


THE HISTORY OF 



(wo bovates of land with the appurtenances in 
Hudeswell, in free, pure, and perpetual alms for 
ever. To have and to hold to the said Pri¬ 
ory and the Monks in free, pure, and per. 
petuai alms, quietly, honourably, and peace¬ 
ably, with all liberties, easements, reliefs, wards, 
and escheats, and with all other the appurte¬ 
nances, within the village of Lludleswel! am! 
without, in all places intirely, and without 
any hindrance belonging to the said land, for 
ever. 

And 1 R o A lb us and my heirs, the aforesaid 
homages anti all the aforesaid services, as is 
before mentioned, to the said Church of S r. 
Mary at York, and the Priory of St. Mar¬ 
tin - near Richmond, and the Monks serving 
God there, will warrant, acquit, and defend 
against all people for ever. And that this my 
gift, grant, and confirmation of my Charter 
may remain good and established for ever, i 
have strengthened this Writing with the defence 
of my Seal. 

Witnesses, Thom as he Lasceles, Peter 
de Crakiiall, Wtmer beLayburn, Wil¬ 
liam deTiiouessy, Henry de Preston, &c. 

Also Eugenius III. Pope, among other 
things confirms the Cell of St. Martin, with 
its appendages, and the Church of Catterick 
with its Chapels, which is dated the third of the 
1 des of August, 1143. 

Also Eugenius ill Pore, in the year 1147 
confirms the Church of Richmond, and the 
Chapel of the Castlf?, with every thing that 
belongs to it through the whole castellany. 


RICHMOND. 


• N » 

4VD 


APPENDIX, No. XI! 


SEE PAGE ‘257. 


Phe TITHES of the CASTLE MILLS granted 
to the MONKS of ST. MARTIN. 

CONAN Duke of Brittany, and Earl ol 
Richmond, to his'Sewer and Consta¬ 
ble and Sheriff mid all his Minister 
health. 

W7~ NOW Ye that l Will an(l firmly command, 
Sl^_ that my Monks of St. Martin fully haw 
the tithe of my Mills, which are at Kitdiayond : 
Wherefore l command yoq, that, as ye 1 «v me 
and the salvation of my Predecessors., ye cause <> 
be paid to them at stated terms the, aforesaid 
tithe, in whatsoever manner they will, oithei iri 
corn, or Twenty .Shillings in money, which 
belong to the aforesaid tithe, since l receive 
from the Mills Ten Pounds That if tiny * ho 
Farm the Mills be unwilling to giv» the tithe, 
then l command, that they pay the tithe out of 
their Chattels, lest i arid my Pietiecis«ora incut; 
the danger of our souls, , 


APPE 




SEE PAG E 258. 


The CHARTER of Peter Cafell, 
of Rich mood, of a Pension o r J?5 . 

N n d 


K f ctor 
to the 


426 


THE HISTORY OF 


ChurdhofSt. Mary at York, and 20Pounds 
of Wax to the Cel! of St. Martin near Rich¬ 
mond. 

From a MANUSCRIPT in the Possession of the Heirs 
of Sir CUTHBERT PEPPER, Kt. in the year 1620. 

TO all the Sons of Holy Mother Church, to 
whom this present Writing shall come, 
Peter Capell, Parson of the Church 
of Richmond, health in the Lord: 

K NOW Ye, that I am bound annually to 
pay to the Church of St. Mary atYork 
£b. byway of Pension from the Church of Rich¬ 
mond, a Moiety at the Feast of St. Martin in 
Winter, and a Moiety at Pentecost, and 20 
Pounds of Wax to the Cell of St Martin near 
Richmond to be paid at the same terms ; be¬ 
sides on the three principal Feasts of the year, 
namely, at the Birth of our Lord, at the Pass- 
over and Penteeost, to the Monks of St. Mar¬ 
tin all the offerings which shall be received at 
the Chapel of the Castle, if the Earl or Con¬ 
stable be there. But I will discharge all Epis¬ 
copal dues, and will sustain all burdens. 

In Witness thereof, &c. Gilbert de Rvr. 
ton, then Seneschal, William de LonqA- 

TILL, GaLFRID DE CrUCE, &C, 


ALTERATIONS & AMEND¬ 
MENTS. 


Pages 141, 143,194. ..^ir Conyeks D' A ncv 
was High Steward of his Majesty’s Honour of 
R ichmond Castle and Richmond shire, and Chief 
Bailiff of the Liberty thereof. He died in 1760, 
and left his property to his Nephew the last Rail 
of Holderness, who sold Aske and the Bur. 
gages in Richmond to the late Sir Laurence Dun. 
das, Bart, about 1762 or 1763. The office of 
High Steward and Chief Bailin' of Richmond 
and Richmondshire came to the late Duke of 
Leeds, who had married his only daughter an 
heiress, from whom the present Duke derives 
this honour. 

Page 179... .The situation of this House has 
been by mistake placed wrong ; from the in- 
formation of a very old inhabitant, the House, 
in which Mr. Goodburne now lives, was always 
looked upon as Cradock Hall, and it is said to 
be so mentioned in the old Writings of it. Over 
the kitchenfire place is placed a plain shield, on 
which has probably been painted some arms, 
that would have settled this point, but no par¬ 
ticular blazoning can now be distinguished from 
the ind iscriminate daubing of the whole with 
pai ut. 

Page 180. ..On lately cleaning the Church 



428 THE HISTORY OF 


preparatory to the Bishop’s Visitation, the old 
Banner fell down, when it was more nearly in¬ 
spected ; it is made of coarse linen cloth with 
arms painted upon it; after washing it with a 
sponge, the blazoning appeared very distinct;; 
argent, a cheverun engrailed between three boar s 
Heads, coupon, sable, tusked dr, Jangued gules. 
Some, from the hear say of old inhabitants long 
since dead, have assigned this Banner to Sir Jo¬ 
seph Cradock, and there appears to be some 
truth in the assertion. In Guillim’s Heraldry, 
argent, three Boar’s Heads, couped, sable, 
armed or, are assigned as arms to the name of 
Cradock, and tise cheveron imv have been 
added by Sir Joseph, as was frequently the 
case formerly for arms to be altered, and addi¬ 
tions made by the different branches of a fa* 

roily. 

The Robinson’s Arms are very correct, ex¬ 
cept with the addition of a mullet for difference. 
'S his is the paternal Coat Armour of Thomas 
Robinson of the Inner Temple, London, Esq. 
Chief Prothonotary of His Majesty’s Court of 
Common Pleas ( 1724) descended from Nicholas 
Robinson of Boston, Lincolnshire, Gent, who 
lived in the time of H enry Vi 1. 

Page 351.fn the Appendix to Gale’s 

Honours of Richmond, No XV. there is a Seal 
with the impression of a Bird similar to this. 
It is there said to be the Seal of Robert de Bros, 
and is appendant to a grant of the Manor of 
Elewick orAiiwic in Hartness, given by him 
to his daughter Agatha on her marriage wita 
Ralph, sod of Ribald. 

In the Second Volume of Dugdale’s Mo¬ 
’s asticon, there is a Plate of Guiaborough 


RICHMOND. 



Priory, founded by this Robert do Brus of 
Skelton Castle, and another of his supposed 
I'oaib in the Conventual Church surrounded 
with shields, on which, or, a saltire and chief 
gules are engraven as his arms ; some of them 
have the addition of a Lion rampant, azure, in a 
canton argent, others a Lion passant in the chief* 
These Plates were given to that Volume in 1661, 
the year in which it was first printed, by Tho¬ 
mas Bruce Karl of Elgin, a descendant of Robert. 





INDEX 


Page. 

ACIIARIAS 40,41. 
Agatha’s, St. Abbey 265. 
Aislabeck 146. 

Alan Rufus 25, 27, 32, 40. 
Alan Niger 38. 

Aldborough 14,57. 
Aldermen 123. 

Alfred 17, 21. 

Alicia 51, 44. 

Alkelda, St. 31. 

Allen’s, Dr. Charity 206. 
Allen’s, Francis do. 214. 
Ann of Bretagne 78. 
Archery 311. 

Anns, Coats of 55. 

Artois, Earl of 69. 

Arthur Prince 48, 49, 50. 
Aske 141, 255. 

Athelstan Abbey 62. 

Audit Money 115. 

Avieia de Guingamp39. 
Bank, Old 147. 

Bank, New 155. 

Bardolph 31, 40. 

Barley-Cross 146 
Bathurst’s Charily 211. 
Beacon-Hill 322. 
Beadhouse 202. 

Beatrix 59. 

Begar 40, 63. 


Page. 

Bells 166. 

Benevolent Society 190. 
Bertha 40. 

Blaekburnes Monument 175 
Blois, Charles of 70. 72. 
Blundeville, Ralph, &c. 48. 
Bodin 31, 40. 

Bolton Castle 272. 
BoIton-upon-Swale 2S7. 
Borough 137. 
Boroughbridge 14. 
Boundaries 345. 

Bowes Castle 36. 

Brian 27, 28, 95. 

Bridge 254. 

Brigantes 13. 

Britain 14, 15. 

Brooke’s Monument 174. 
Brough, Thomas de 100. 
Bruce, Robert 66. 
Burniston 28. 

Burton Constable 111. 
Caesar 13, 14. 

Canute 17, 18. 

Carlisle 16. 

Castle of Richmond 85. 
Castle of Middleham 28, 32. 
Castle of Bolton 272. 

Castle Guard 93. 

Castle Walk 230, 


RICHMOND 


431 


Page. 


Page. 


Catholi^C Impel 198. 
Catterick 285. 

Charles 8th of France 78. 
Charter, the First 108. 
Charles’s Charter 118. 
Chapels 201. 

Chateau Brient 28. 

Chimney Sweepers 804. 
Christmas 293. 
Christmas-Day 291. 
Christmas-Carol 295. 
Church of Middleham 31. 
Circulating Libraries 191. 
Claudius 15. 

Clarevaux99. 

Clark’s Charity 220. 

Clergy 18. 

Clink Bank 231. 

Close’s Monument 181. 
Coats of Arms 55. 

Cock-Pit 90. 

Common Council 125. 
Conan Duke of Bretagne, 
40, 44. 

Consistory Court 149. 
Constance 44, 46, 47, 48. 
Copper Mines 324. 

Cornu al 28, 42. 

Cotterell’s Charity 206. 
Coverham 29. 

Cradock’s Monument 179. 
Crakehill 30. 

Cross 145. 

Cup to Mr. Robinson 200. 
Do. Mr. Chavtor 200. 
Customs, Okl 293. 

Danes 17, 32. 

Danegeld35. 

Danish 18. 

D’Arey UT. 

De?enna 21. 

Decuria 21. 

Deira 16. 


Dixon’s Monument 181. 
Domesday 23. 

Domitian 14. 

Dreux, Peter de 51. 
Durham 18, 21. 

Eanfled i. Queen 26. 

Earl 33. 

Earls of Richmond 27. 
East Anglia 17, 

Easby Abbey 265. 

Easter 303. 

Edgar Atheling 19, 20. 
Edmund 17. 

Edmund of Haddam 80. 
Edmundsbury 38. 

Edric 20. 

Edward the Confessor IS. 
Edward 4, 30. 

Edwyn 21, 25, 32. 
Egbert 16, 

Eggleston Abbey 62. 
Eleanor 48. 

Electing of Mayor 122, 
Elizabeth’s Charter 117. 
Ellerton Priory 249. 
Elsely’s Charity 2?I. 
Emsant Musard 58. 
Epitaph in Easaby 245. 
Erie Orchard 257. 
Etkelred 17. 

Fair, Holy Rood 62, 38 
Fair, Palm 337. 
Fee-Farm of 40 1. til. 
Fee-Farm Rents Chari i 
209. 

Fitz-Ilugh 98. 

Fitz- Roy, Henry 80, 
Font 161. 

Fontenay 37, 42. 

Fors 41, 44. 

Frank Pledge 21. 

Friary 196. 

Friars Minors 29, 65, 


432 


THE !I 5STORY OF 


Page. 

5"riars >*; nors, London 53. 
Fre<- m< n 120. 

Friendly Societies 189. 

Cale’s Honours of Rich¬ 
mond.384. 

Guol 194. 

41 aunt, »T,; 1 1 n oi / 1« 
Ge3dab;e 35, 

Geofrey 46. 

Gilling‘i5, 36. 

Glint rick 28. 

Gian v ide, Ralph de 47. 
Grammar School 183 
Oicr.d Stand 326. 

Grant to Earl Alan 31. 
Green 252. 

G ret a, in .’k Charity 218, 
(hey, John 96. 

Guido de Thouers 50. 
Guischard of Charron 60. 
Hagmer.a 300. 
fclalikdd 26. 

Hang-Last and West 25. 
Harold 22. 

Hastings 22. 
llelewida .8. 

Henry Jei kins 287. 

Hep ecUy id, 

Hic’xv’s Monument 178. 
Hide 21 
Jlipstvdi '9- 
Hud*v«U 19, 321. 

Humber 1(1 
Hunoheds2.il, 25. 

I i >. ■ lehi uson 1 s R ie?: ard C-h a- 
rPv 207. 

Hutch r - • ;.‘s, Mott, Cha- 
r'*y US. 

HvttmJs Mmiuroenl 108. 
lute 24. 

Ing 'ph.-& 24. 
lutu ludes 305. 


Page. 

Isuriurp Brigantimn 14. 
Ivar 17. 

John, King 49. 

John, Earl of Richmond 
56, 60. 

John Ji. 66. 

John HI. 69, 

Jolin i V, 7 1 

John, Duko of Bedford 79. 
Jorevaux Abbey 44. 

King Street 191. 
Kirklington 19. 

Lancashire 22. 

Lancaster, Duke of 72. 
Lennox, Duke of Rich* 
Hiond 81. 

Libraries Circulating 191 
Linlej, Sir Henry 31 
Lisois 19, 20. 

Local Militia 327. 

Lodowic, Duke of Rich* 
mond 80. 

Lo>v Church 156. 

Magical Tables 262. 
Malbon’s Charity 208. 
Manfteld Church 277. 
Market Place 146. 
Manoyon 97. 

Martins, St. 255, 

Mar rick Priory 246. 

Marske 321. 

Mary, St. York39; 

Masters 19, 20. 

Mayor J22, 

M ’yops, List f 129. 

May Games 304. 

Maxwell’s Clwity 218. 
Mens’ Society 189. 

Mercia 17 21 
Metedfeks Mcuunicnt 176. 
r dhoti st Chapel 191 

MiudiCiiam 28. 


RICHMOND 


Midsummer Eve, 308. 
Mines, L ad £39, 33T. 
Mines, Copper 324. 
Monasteriis, 19. 

Montefort, Earl of 70 
Monuments, 167. 

Moor, John 127. 

Morcar, Earl 32. 

Morriee Dance, 296. 
Moulton, 63. 

Musters, 19. 

My ton, 291. 

Neville. 29, 52, 77, 79. 
Newcastle, 16. 

New Year’s Gifts, 298. 
Nicholas, St. 232. 

Niger, Alan 27. 

Noble, 348. 

Normandy, 17. 

Normans, 18, 20. 
Northumberland, 16, 17, 19. 
Northwood, John 68. 
Norton’s Charity, 212. 
Nunnery, 201. 

Old Customs, 293. 

Organ, 165. 

Ormond, 19. 

Osbern, 18, 32. 

Oswin, 25 
Paintings, 347. 
Palni-Sunday, 303. 

Patrick-Brompton, 41. 
Peg-Tankard, 121. 
Pembroke, Countess of 69. 
Pepper’s Monument, 176. 
Peter de Quinciano, 41, 42. 
Peter-Pence, 150. 

Piets, 15. 

Pinkney’s Charity, 216. 

Pin Money, 299. 

Plague, 114, 174. 

Plants, 354. 

Pontefract, 19. 



Pope, 18. 

Population. 333. 

Pratt, John Esq. of Ask- 
rigg 329. 

Property, Annual A alua- 
tion 338. 

Quaker’s Meeting, 192. 
Races, 326. 

Ralph de Glanville, 28. 
Ravensw vih, 40. 

Rebellion, 331. 

Recorder, 123. 

Recorders, List of, 135. 
Rents of Corporation, 128. 
Ribald, 27. 

Richard, Duke of Glouces¬ 
ter, 31. 

Richmond, 23. 

Right of Electing Members 
138. 

Ring found, 351 
Robert Cumin, 18. 

Robert Clifford, 20. 

Roger of St. Edmunds, 49. 
Romans, 13, 15. 

Roman Wall, 15. 

Roman Coins, 37. - 
Roman Spoon, 37. 

Rood Fair, 110. 

Rose Noble, 350. 

Round How, 252. 

Rufus, Alan, 27, 32. 

St. Paul, Mary of, 69. 

St. Swithin, 319. 

Savoy, Peter of, 56. 
Saxons, 16, 18. 

School, Grammar, 183. 
School, Corporation, 187. 
School,Young Ladies’, IS*. 
Schools, Sunday, 188. 
Scolandus, 41. 

Scots, 15, 66, 67. 

Scot’s Dike, 26». 

O o 


434 


THE HISTORY OF 


Scot’s Charity, 215. 
Serjeants at Mace, 126. 
Shires, 21. 

Snell, Richard burnt, 173. 
Snow-Tankard, 128. 
Societies’, Friendly, 189, 
190. 

Solway, 10. 

Stallsof the Aldermen, 162. 
Stapylton, Gilbert de, 96. 
Stapylton, Nicholas de, G4. 
Steeple, Church, 160. 
Stephen, Earl, 27, 39. 
Stewart, James, Duke of 
Richmond, 80. 

Swale, 237. 

Swale, Sir Solomon, 241. 
Sword Dance, 296. 
Swayneby, 29. 

Swein, 17. 

Tateshal, 30. 

Taylor’s Charity, 208. 
Theatre, 192. 

Thompson’s, Wm. Charity, 

222 . 

Thompson’s Richard, Cha¬ 
rity, 207. 

Thoraldeby, 30. 

•Tolls, 126. 

Town, 105. 

Town-Clerk, 125, 136. 
Town-Hall, 155. 

Trinity Chapel, 147. 
Tvumphere, Bishop, 26. 


Tyne, 16. 

Tythings, 21. 

Valentine’s Days, 301. 
Views, 230. 

Volunteers, 327. 

Waites, 296. 

Wales, Prince of, 343. 
Walks, 320. 

Wallsend, 16. 

Walran, 28. 

Waltheof, Earl 32. 
Wandesford, 19. 
Wapontakes, 25. 

Wards, 136. 

Warren, Free, 84. 
Warwick, Earl of, 30. 
Wayne’s Charit>, 203. 
Wetw r ang, William, 118. 
Wharton, Duke of, 141. 
Wharton’s, Lord, Charity 
187, 209. 

Whitcliffe Sear, 320. 
Willance, 127, 251. 
William, Duke of Nor 
mandy, 18, 19, 20, 21 

22, 27. 

Windows, Church, 158. 
Winn’s Monument, 179. 
Woodhall, 46. 

Women’s Society, 189. 
Work • house, 195. 

York, 19, 21, 66. 

Yorke Family, 141. 

Yorke, John Esq. 253. 


ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS TO CORRES¬ 
PONDENTS. 


The valuable Papers from an old Correspondent ar- 
ri ved too late to be made use of, the last half Sheet being 
in the Tress, when the Publisher received them. Many 
thanks are however due to him for this, as well as for 
his former attentions. Some of the Articles he will find 
not overlooked, but taken notice of nearly in the same 
manner which he has pointed out. Different Persons 
will see the same thing in different lighis, and describe 
it as the first impression strikes them. Many of his Pa 
pers w ill be of great service to the learned Author of the 
intended History of Richmondshire, who will enter 
deeper into the Subject than can possibly be expected in 
this Work, particularly the Etymology of Names: he 
will do them ample justice, and handle them in a better 
manner than the Editor of this small Treatise could ever 
hope to aspire to. 

Severae Poems and Letters have been received: 
some of them w ill be found noticed, but others are too 
trifling to be mentioned. 

The Paper signed “ Burgess,” has come to hand. 
The Author of it was little acquainted with the disposi¬ 
tion of the Editor, if he could suppose him capable of 
becoming a Vehicle to convey such pointed remarks in 
the very illiberal language, which lie has used. lie will 
find in its proper place a little allusion to a part of iJ r 

O o2 




436 THE HISTORY OF 




which could not well be avoided in giving some informa¬ 
tion upon that article. The various abuses he mentions 
will in time work their own reformation. 

John Tweedy, Esq. of York, Miss Belt, Haughton, 
and Mr. C. Whitelock, Richmond, are Subscribers? 
but their names came too late to be inserted in their 
proper places. 


THE END. 


(T. Bowman, Printer, Richmond.) 


ERRATA. 


Page 55, Note, line 9, dele two. 

Page 100, line 2, for az. read ar. 

Page 100, line 4, for az. read ar. 

Page 169, line 16, for Militis read Militem. 

Page 239, line 15, for Inhabitants read Inhabitants. 
Page 291, third line from the bottom, fordessolate read 
desolate. 

Page 334, line third, and Page 428, l : ne 27, for Gale’s 
Honours of Richmond, read Gale’s Register of the 
Honour of Richmond. 

Page 349, last line 1 , for fleur-de-lis, read fleurs-de-lis. 
Page 350, line9, for fleur-de-lis, read fleurs-de-lis. 
Page 357, line 14, for Sanicle Wood, read Sanicle, 
Woods about Richmond. 

Page 358, line 6, for amusements, read amusement. 
Page 358, line 5 from the bottom, dele whatever. 



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